To assess the suitability of a patient for enteral feeding, healthcare professionals should consider whether the patient is malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, has inadequate or unsafe oral intake, and has a functional, accessible gastrointestinal tract NICE CG32.
Enteral tube feeding should not be given unless these criteria are met, or the patient is participating in a clinical trial NICE CG32.
Patients with a non-functional, inaccessible, or perforated gastrointestinal tract are not suitable candidates for enteral feeding NICE CG32.
Assessment should include confirming the placement of the feeding tube after insertion and before each use, using aspiration and pH testing, or X-ray if necessary NICE CG32.
Contraindications to consider include upper gastrointestinal dysfunction, such as obstruction or perforation, and situations where the gastrointestinal tract is inaccessible or non-functional NICE CG32.