Monitoring Nutritional Support

Monitoring nutrition
support
A NICE pathway brings together all NICE guidance, quality
standards and materials to support implementation on a speci,c
topic area. The pathways are interactive and designed to be used
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To view the online version of this pathway visit:
http://pathways.nice.org.uk/pathways/nutrition-support-in-adults
Pathway last updated: 04 September 2014

Copyright © NICE 2014. All rights reserved
NICEPathways
Pathways
Monitoring nutrition support NICE Pathways
Nutrition support in adults pathway Page 2 of 12

Copyright © NICE 2014. Pathway last updated: 04 September 2014
1 Person receiving nutrition support
No additional information
2 Review of nutrition support
Healthcare professionals with the relevant skills and training in nutritional monitoring should
undertake monitoring.
Review indications, route, risks, benefits and goals of nutrition support at regular intervals. The
time between reviews depends on the patient, care setting and duration of nutrition support.
Intervals may increase as the patient is stabilised on nutrition support.
Healthcare professionals with relevant skills and training in the diagnosis, assessment and
management of swallowing disorders should regularly monitor and reassess people with
dysphagia who are having modified food and liquid until they are stable.
Quality standards
The following quality statement is relevant to this part of the pathway.
5. Review
3 Monitoring nutrition support in hospital
Refer to the Protocol for nutritional, anthropometric and clinical monitoring of nutrition support
and the Protocol for laboratory monitoring of nutrition support when monitoring people having
nutrition support in hospital. The protocol on laboratory monitoring of nutrition support is
particularly relevant to parenteral nutrition. It could also be selectively applied when enteral or
oral nutrition support is used, particularly for people who are metabolically unstable or at risk of
refeeding syndrome. The frequency and extent of the observations given may need to be
adapted in acutely ill or metabolically unstable people.

4 Monitoring nutrition support in the community
Oral and enteral nutrition
Monitor people having oral nutrition support and/or enteral tube feeding in the community every
3–6 months or more frequently if there is any change in their clinical condition. A limited number
of observations and tests from the Protocol for nutritional, anthropometric and clinical monitoring
of nutrition support should be performed. Some clinical observations may be checked by
patients or carers. If clinical progress is satisfactory, laboratory tests are rarely needed.
Parenteral nutrition
People having parenteral nutrition in the community need regular assessment and monitoring.
This should be carried out by home care specialists and by experienced hospital teams (initially
at least weekly) using the observations marked * in the Protocol for nutritional, anthropometric
and clinical monitoring of nutrition support. In addition, they should be reviewed at a specialist
hospital clinic every 3–6 months. Monitoring should be more frequent during the early months of
home parenteral nutrition, or if there is a change in clinical condition, when the full tests in both
the Protocol for nutritional, anthropometric and clinical monitoring of nutrition support and the
Protocol for laboratory monitoring of nutrition support should be performed. Some of the clinical
observations may be checked by patients or carers.
Monitoring for long-term nutrition support
If long-term nutrition support is needed, train patients and carers to recognise and respond to
adverse changes in both their well-being and in the management of their nutritional delivery
system.
Quality standards
The following quality statement is relevant to this part of the pathway.
4. Self-management of artificial nutrition support
5 Stopping nutrition support
See nutrition support in adults / nutrition support in adults overview / stopping nutrition support

Protocol for nutritional, anthropometric and clinical monitoring of nutrition

support
Parameter Frequency Rationale
Nutritional
Nutrient intake from oral, To ensure that patient is receiving

enteral or parenteral nutrition Daily initially, reducing nutrients to meet requirements and
(including any change in to twice weekly when that current method of feeding is
conditions that are affecting stable still the most appropriate. To allow
food intake) alteration of intake as indicated
Daily initially, reducing To ensure that patient is receiving

Actual volume of feed
to twice weekly when correct volume of feed. To allow
delivered*
stable troubleshooting
Daily initially, reducing

Fluid balance charts (enteral To ensure patient is not becoming
to twice weekly when
and parenteral) over/under hydrated
stable
Anthropometric
Daily if concerns
regarding fluid
Weight* balance, otherwise To assess ongoing nutritional
weekly reducing to status, determine whether
monthly nutritional goals are being achieved
and take into account both body fat
and muscle
Start of feeding and
BMI*
then monthly

Monthly, if weight
Mid-arm circumference* cannot be obtained or
is difficult to interpret
Monthly, if weight
Triceps skinfold thickness cannot be obtained or
is difficult to interpret
GI function

Nausea/vomiting* To ensure tolerance of feed
to twice weekly
To rule out any other causes of

Diarrhoea* diarrhoea and then assess
to twice weekly
tolerance of feeds
To rule out other causes of

Constipation* constipation and then assess
to twice weekly
tolerance of feeds
Abdominal distension As necessary To assess tolerance of feed
Enteral tube – nasally inserted
Gastric tube position (pH less

than or equal to 5.5 using pH
Before each feed
paper – or noting position of To ensure tube in correct position
begins
markers on tube once initial
position has been confirmed)
Nasal erosion Daily To ensure tolerance of tube

To help prevent tube becoming

Fixation (is it secure?) Daily
dislodged
Is tube in working order (all

pieces intact, tube not blocked/ Daily To ensure tube is in working order
kinked)?
Gastrostomy or jejunostomy
To ensure site not infected/red, no

Stoma site Daily
signs of gastric leakage
To ensure tube has not migrated

Tube position (length at
Daily from/into stomach and external
external fixation)
overgranulation
Tube insertion and rotation To prevent internal overgranulation/

(gastrostomy without jejunal Weekly prevention of buried bumper
extension only) syndrome
Balloon water volume (balloon

Weekly To prevent tube falling out
retained gastrostomies only)
Jejunostomy tube position by

noting position of external Daily To confirm position
markers
Parenteral nutrition
To check for signs of infection/

Catheter entry site* Daily
inflammation

Skin over position of catheter To check for signs of

Daily
tip (peripherally fed people)* thrombophlebitis
Clinical condition
To ensure that patient is tolerating

General condition* Daily feed and that feeding and route
continue to be appropriate
Daily initially, then as To check for sign of infection and

Temperature/blood pressure
needed monitor fluid balance
To ensure appropriate preparation

of drug (to reduce incidence of tube
Drug therapy* to monthly when
blockage). To prevent/reduce drug
stable
nutrient interactions
Long-/short-term goals
Are goals being met?* Daily initially, reducing

to twice weekly and
then progressively to To ensure that feeding is
3–6 monthly, unless appropriate to overall care of patient
Are goals still appropriate?* clinical condition
change
People at home having parenteral nutrition should be monitored using observations marked *.
Protocol for laboratory monitoring of nutrition support
The information in this table is particularly relevant to parenteral nutrition. It could also be
selectively applied when enteral or 'oral nutrition support' is used, particularly for people who are
metabolically unstable or at risk of refeeding syndrome. The frequency and extent of the
observations given may need to be adapted in acutely ill or metabolically unstable people.

Parameter Frequency Rationale Interpretation
Sodium, Assessment of Interpret with knowledge of fluid

Baseline, daily
potassium, renal function, balance and medication. Urine
until stable, then 1
urea, fluid status, and sodium may be helpful in complex
or 2 times a week
creatinine Na and K status cases with gastrointestinal fluid loss
Baseline, 1 or 2
times a day (or Glucose
Glucose more if needed) intolerance is Good glycaemic control is necessary
until stable, then common
weekly
Baseline, daily if
risk of refeeding Depletion is
Magnesium, syndrome, 3 times common and Low concentrations indicate poor
phosphate a week until under status
stable, then recognised
weekly
Liver function
Abnormalities
tests including Baseline, twice
common during Complex. May be due to sepsis,
International weekly until stable,
parenteral other disease or nutritional intake
Normalised then weekly
nutrition
Ratio (INR)
Correct measured serum calcium

Hypocalcaemia
concentration for albumin.
Calcium, Baseline, then or
Hypocalcaemia may be secondary to
albumin weekly hypercalcaemia
Mg deficiency. Low albumin reflects
may occur
disease not protein status

Assists
Baseline, then 2 or interpretation of To assess the presence of an acute
C-reactive
3 times a week protein, trace phase reaction (APR). The trend of
protein
until stable element and results is important
vitamin results
Baseline, then Deficiency

every 2–4 weeks, common, People most at risk when anabolic.
Zinc, copper
depending on especially when APR causes Zn ↓ and Cu ↑
results increased losses
Se deficiency
Baseline if risk of likely in severe
APR causes Se ↓. Long-term status
depletion, further illness and
Seleniuma better assessed by glutathione
testing dependent sepsis, or long-
peroxidase
on baseline term nutrition
support
Baseline, 1 or 2 Anaemia due to

Full blood
times a week until iron or folate
count and Effects of sepsis may be important
stable, then deficiency is
MCV
weekly common
Iron deficiency
Baseline, then common in long- Iron status difficult if APR (Fe ↓,
Iron, ferritin
every 3–6 months term parenteral ferritin ↑)
nutrition
Baseline, then Iron deficiency is Serum folate/B12 sufficient, with full

Folate, B12
every 2–4 weeks common blood count

Excess provision
Every 3–6 months
to be avoided, Red blood cell or whole blood better
Manganeseb if on home
more likely if liver measure of excess than plasma
parenteral nutrition
disease
6-monthly if on Low if Requires normal kidney function for

25-OH Vit Db
long-term support housebound effect
On starting home
Metabolic bone
Bone parenteral Together with lab tests for metabolic
disease
densitometryb nutrition, then bone disease
diagnosis
every 2 years
a
This test is needed primarily for people having parenteral nutrition in the community.
b
These tests are rarely needed in people having enteral tube feeding (in hospital or in the
community), unless there is cause for concern.
Glossary
Sources
Nutrition support in adults. NICE clinical guideline 32 (2006)
Your responsibility
The guidance in this pathway represents the view of NICE, which was arrived at after careful
consideration of the evidence available. Those working in the NHS, local authorities, the wider
public, voluntary and community sectors and the private sector should take it into account when
carrying out their professional, managerial or voluntary duties. Implementation of this guidance
is the responsibility of local commissioners and/or providers. Commissioners and providers are
reminded that it is their responsibility to implement the guidance, in their local context, in light of
their duties to avoid unlawful discrimination and to have regard to promoting equality of
opportunity. Nothing in this guidance should be interpreted in a way which would be inconsistent
with compliance with those duties.

Copyright
Copyright © National Institute for Health and Care Excellence 2014. All rights reserved. NICE
copyright material can be downloaded for private research and study, and may be reproduced
for educational and not-for-profit purposes. No reproduction by or for commercial organisations,
or for commercial purposes, is allowed without the written permission of NICE.
Contact NICE
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Piccadilly Plaza
Manchester
M1 4BT
www.nice.org.uk
nice@nice.org.uk
0845 003 7781


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Monitoring nutrition

To view the online version of this pathway visit:

Pathway last updated: 04 September 2014

Nutrition support in adults pathway Page 2 of 12

1 Person receiving nutrition support

2 Review of nutrition support

The following quality statement is relevant to this part of the pathway.

3 Monitoring nutrition support in hospital

Nutrition support in adults pathway Page 3 of 12

4 Monitoring nutrition support in the community

Oral and enteral nutrition

Monitoring for long-term nutrition support

The following quality statement is relevant to this part of the pathway.

4. Self-management of artificial nutrition support

5 Stopping nutrition support

Nutrition support in adults pathway Page 4 of 12

Protocol for nutritional, anthropometric and clinical monitoring of nutrition

Parameter Frequency Rationale

Nutrient intake from oral, To ensure that patient is receiving

Daily initially, reducing To ensure that patient is receiving

Daily initially, reducing

Nutrition support in adults pathway Page 5 of 12

Daily initially, reducing

To rule out any other causes of

To rule out other causes of

Abdominal distension As necessary To assess tolerance of feed

Enteral tube – nasally inserted

Gastric tube position (pH less

Nasal erosion Daily To ensure tolerance of tube

Nutrition support in adults pathway Page 6 of 12

To help prevent tube becoming

Is tube in working order (all

To ensure site not infected/red, no

To ensure tube has not migrated

Tube insertion and rotation To prevent internal overgranulation/

Balloon water volume (balloon

Jejunostomy tube position by

To check for signs of infection/

Nutrition support in adults pathway Page 7 of 12

Skin over position of catheter To check for signs of

To ensure that patient is tolerating

Daily initially, then as To check for sign of infection and

To ensure appropriate preparation

Are goals being met?* Daily initially, reducing

Protocol for laboratory monitoring of nutrition support

Nutrition support in adults pathway Page 8 of 12

Parameter Frequency Rationale Interpretation

Sodium, Assessment of Interpret with knowledge of fluid

Correct measured serum calcium

Nutrition support in adults pathway Page 9 of 12

Baseline, then Deficiency

Baseline, 1 or 2 Anaemia due to

Baseline, then Iron deficiency is Serum folate/B12 sufficient, with full

Nutrition support in adults pathway Page 10 of 12

6-monthly if on Low if Requires normal kidney function for

Nutrition support in adults. NICE clinical guideline 32 (2006)

Nutrition support in adults pathway Page 11 of 12

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

0845 003 7781

Nutrition support in adults pathway Page 12 of 12

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