What is considered a bolus feed?

Bolus feeding is a way of receiving a set amount of feed as required, without use of a feeding pump. This is given over a period of time, as advised by your healthcare professional, using an enteral feeding syringe.

How long should a bolus feeding take?

It may also be called syringe or gravity feeding because holding up the syringe allows formula to flow down using gravity. Most people take a bolus or a “meal” of formula about every three hours or so. This allows you to have more freedom in between feedings. A feeding will usually take up to 20 minutes.

What is the difference between a bolus feeding and intermittent feeding?

In intermittent feeding, EN is administered over 20-60 min every 4-6 h with or without a feeding pump. In bolus feeding, EN is administered via a syringe or gravity drip over a 4-10-min period.

Can you push a bolus feed?

It has a hole with a plunger in it. You draw up formula through the hole in the syringe then push the formula into your feeding tube with the plunger. A bolus refers to 1 “meal” of formula.

What is a serious risk with enteral feedings?

Complications of enteral feeding. Patients with feeding tubes are at risk for such complications as aspiration, tube malpositioning or dislodgment, refeeding syndrome, medication-related complications, fluid imbalance, insertion-site infection, and agitation.

What are cyclic feedings?

Cyclic Feeding Cyclic feeding involves feeding by electric enteral feeding pump over a period of <24 hours, in which the goal infusion rate is determined by dividing the desired formula volume by the number of hours of administration.

Can you come off a feeding tube?

When you are safely able to consume at least 75% of your calorie needs by mouth for at least a few days, your dietitian may try discontinuing the tube feeding. Eventually, you may be able to supplement your meals with an oral nutrition supplement instead of using your tube.