Early Enteral Feeding (within the first 24-48 hours) is the preferred mode of artificial feeding
over total parenteral nutrition (TPN), and should be maintained while patients remain in the
flow or catabolic phase of their injury regardless of their state of oral intake.(1,2,3)
Observational monitors of the flow phase include tachycardia, hypertension, hyperventilation,
and hyperthermia. Current literature suggests that bowel sounds do not have to be present
to successfully commence enteral feeding as bowel sounds are not a good indicator of the
small intestines’ capacity to absorb nutrients.(4) This remains controversial and thus patients
will require monitoring to see if they are tolerating the regime