Tube feeding Obesity

[oxyjen]

Two residents in a LTC home in my area are so obese! One has been there 15 years and adm weight was 99 pounds, now it's 190. Abdomen huge and very firm, hard is a better word. Trouble breathing too. Another R isn't as bad, but close. I asked a nurse about it and she said the DR goes by the lab values. They have to maintain those. If they decrease the feeding they go down, so they have to keep it like it is. LTC is new to me, is this your experience that tube feeding leads to obesity?

[Cute_CNA, CNA]

Lack of mobility probably doesn't help, either.

[whipping girl in 07, RN]

I work in metabolic support and I follow people in the hospital on tube feeding and PN, making changes as needed. We use lab values and watch the weight intake and output and make adjustments as needed. It sounds like the patient who is gaining so much weight may be overfed and may need some adjustments made. However, was the admit weight underweight for the patient? If so, then he may have needed to be overfed somewhat to get back to a normal weight. I know in long-term-care lab values and such are not measured very often and it may be overlooked. You should speak to the RD that is following the patient the next time you see her and bring up your concerns.

[Blackcat99]

Yes. I remember there was a 200 plus lb woman at the LTC facility with a G-tube. She always ate 100% of her meals. She wasn't one of my patients but I don't think they were actually giving her anymore GT feedings.

[oxyjen]

Thanks, this resident has been in vegatative state for 15 years, and has a trach. Her admission weight was 99 pounds. I don't know if she was underweight on admission, she looked beautiful in the pictures in the room. It's too bad. I know the dr has to maintain labs so it doesn't appear he is doing any harm.

[suebird3]

this phenomenon can cause "third spacing". may usually occur w/ cancer, but i have seen it in several gt feeders. fluid shifts occur.