The use, efficacy and monitoring of artificial nutritional support in a teaching hospital.

The implementation of circulated guidelines has been audited, by assessing the extent to which nutritional goals were set and achieved and recording the levels of morbidity as a result of complications. Adults receiving artificial nutritional support were studied over a six month period. Nutritional assessment was used to determine adequacy of prescription and efficacy of the support. Energy requirements were retrospectively calculated and compared with prescriptions and actual intakes. Complications and interruptions to the regimens which resulted in lost feeding time were recorded, as were patient outcomes. Nutrient prescriptions were inadequate, delivery of prescriptions was incomplete and thus nutrient supply inadequate.