Enteral Nutrition Resources

General EN  |  EN for Specific Populations

Enteral Access Devices and Connectors  |  EN Product Shortages

General Enteral Nutrition Resources

Overview of Enteral Nutrition 

• What is Enteral Nutrition? ( English), ( Spanish) 
• Book: ASPEN Enteral Nutrition Handbook Second Edition 2019
  This handbook contains recommendations on safe practices, ENFit^®, and information on preparation, labeling, and dispensing of EN. It is a step-by-step, practical guide to caring for patients receiving EN therapy.
  

Indications for Enteral Nutrition

• When is enteral nutrition indicated? JPEN 2022
• NEW! Video: Enteral Nutrition Indications in Patients with Specific Non-GI Diseases Supported by Cardinal Health 2023
• NEW! Podcast: Indications for Enteral Nutrition in Patients with Cancer Supported by Cardinal Health 2023
• NEW! Practice Tool: Indications for Enteral Nutrition in Patients with Critical Illness: ASPEN Recommendations 2023
• NEW! Practice Tool: Indications for Enteral Nutrition in Patients with Oncological Diseases: ASPEN Recommendations 2023
• NEW! Practice Tool: Indications for Enteral Nutrition in Patients with Gastrointestinal Diseases: ASPEN Recommendations 2023
• NEW! Practice Tool: Indications for Enteral Nutrition in Patients with Specific Non-GI Diseases: ASPEN Recommendations 2023

Safe Practices for Enteral Nutrition

• Safe Practices for Enteral Nutrition Therapy JPEN 2016 
  Supersedes the 2009 Enteral Nutrition Practice Recommendations
  

Interprofessional Collaboration to Optimize Enteral Nutrition

• Practice Tool: Feeding Tube Placement Resources for Dietitians Supported by Abbott 2023
• Video Series and Practice Tool: Development supported by Abbott 2023
• Elevating the Nurses Role in the Optimization of Enteral Nutrition (EN) for Improved Patient Outcomes
• Companion Practice Tool: Key Role of the Nurse in Enteral Nutrition Delivery
• Interprofessional Collaboration in Enteral Nutrition (EN) Delivery

Enteral Nutrition Reimbursement

• Update on Medicare Reimbursement Coverage for Home Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 2021  

Medication Use with Enteral Nutrition and Enteral Access Devices

• Book: ASPEN’s Guidebook on Enteral Medication Administration 2019
  This is an essential resource that addresses medication delivery via enteral feeding access devices.  
• Medication Issues and Error Reporting

Enteral Nutrition Modalities

Blenderized Tube Feeding - ASPEN Practice Recommendations:

• NEW! Blenderized tube feedings: Practice recommendations from the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition NCP 2023   
• NEW! Practice Tool: Blenderized Tube Feedings: ASPEN Practice Recommendations, Sections 1 and 4 Supported by Nutricia North America, 2023
• NEW! Practice Tool: Blenderized Tube Feedings: ASPEN Practice Recommendations, Sections 2 and 3 Supported by Kate Farms, 2024
• NEW! Podcast: Blenderized Tube Feedings: Practice Recommendations from ASPEN (Sections 1 and 4) Supported by Nutricia North America, 2023
• NEW! Podcast: Blenderized Tube Feedings: Practice Recommendations from ASPEN (Sections 2 and 3) Supported by Cardinal Health, 2023  
  
• NCP Podcast:  Blenderized Tube Feedings: Practice Recommendations from ASPEN

Blenderized Tube Feeding - General Resources:

• Podcast: Blenderized Tube Feeding (BTF) Podcast , Sponsored by Nutricia North America, 2022  
• Video Series: Supported by Real Food Blends 2020
  • Introduction to BTF
  • Basics of Homemade BTF
  • BTF for Adult Patients Receiving EN
  • BTF for Pediatric Patients Receiving EN
  • Clinical Questions When Administering BTF
  • Transitioning to BTF: Inpatient/Outpatient Settings and Insurance Coverage
    

Nutritional Beverages

• Nutritional Beverages: Flavor Still Rules, NZMP/Fonterra presentation at ASPEN20 2020

Oral Nutrition Supplements

• Tipsheet: Oral Nutrition Supplements 2022

Plant Based Protein

• Video Series Development support by Kate Farms 2020
  • Part 1: Assessment of Plant-Based Protein Quality  
  • Part 2: Plant-Based Diet and Clinical Impact 

External Resources: In addition to the ASPEN resources above, the ASPEN Enteral Nutrition Committee has compiled these helpful external resources for both clinicians and consumers. ASPEN does not endorse any brand of product nor are these listings a substitute for medical or other professional advice and should not be taken as such.  Enteral Nutrition Videos (updated 2021) Compilation of informational videos on enteral nutrition. Enteral Nutrition Formula Guide (updated 2020) This guide includes most enteral formulas in various categories for use.

Enteral Nutrition Resources for Specific Patient Populations

*Presented alphabetically

Aging Population

• Dietary Strategies to Augment Muscle Mass in the Elderly, NZMP/Fonterra presentation at ASPEN202020  

COVID

• Enteral Nutrition with COVID-19: Managing the ARDS Patient in the Prone Position, Content development supported by Nestlé Health Science 2020  
• How to Enterally Feed the Prone Patient with COVID-19, Content development supported by Abbott 2020

Patients with Cancer

• Video Series: Enteral Nutrition and Head and Neck Cancer, Development support by Nutricia North America 2022
  • Part 1: Overview of Head and Neck Cancer  
  • Part 2: Enteral Nutrition for Patients with Head and Neck Cancer  
  • Part 3: Blenderized Tube Feeding for Patients with Head and Neck Cancer  
• Fact Sheet: Blenderized Tube Feeding for Patients with Head and Neck Cancer  
• Fact Sheet: A Consumer Guide for Cancer Patients: Tube Feeding and Head and Neck Cancer  

Critically Ill Patients
Adult Patients

• ASPEN EN Care Pathway2018
  This pathway provides steps and resources for managing critically-ill adult patients requiring enteral nutrition (EN), starting at needs assessment through transition out of the ICU.    

Neonatal Patients

• NEW! Practice Tool: Hypoallergenic Formulas for Infants and Children: When to Use Extensively Hydrolyzed Formula (eHF) vs. Amino Acid-Based Formula (AAF)Supported by Nutricia North America,2023
• Nutrition Management of Term Infants with Growth Failure 2022  
  

Patients with Fat Malabsorption   

• NEW! Practice Tool:  Optimizing Enteral Nutrition in Pediatric and Adult Patients with Fat Malabsorption  Supported by Alcresta Therapeutics, Inc. 2023

Enteral Access Devices and Connectors

Enteral Access Device Placement and Verification

• NEW! Practice Tool: Feeding Tube Placement Resources for Dietitians Supported by Abbott 2023
• Development of a Competency Model for Placement and Verification of Nasogastric and Nasoenteric Feeding Tubes for Adult Hospitalized Patients NCP 2021
  Please note: On Table 4, under EMPD Only Cortrak (Avanos) is FDA approved for verification. In the column labeled Advantages, the following language Cortrak is FDA approved for verification of tube tip but may need to consider a second method of confirmation if indicated should be substituted with Confirmation of NG/NI tubes placed with CORTRAK*2 should be confirmed per institutional protocol as per a April 22, 2022 FDA granted 510(k) clearance for labeling change.
  • Webinar: Nasoenteric Feeding Tube Placement in the Adult Patient: Safety and Competency 2021
    
  • Fact Sheet: Supplemental Fact Sheet 2021  
  • Checklist: Bedside Feeding Tube Placement Competency Tool Checklist 2021  

• NOVEL Project (New Opportunities for Verification of Enteral Tube Location Project).
  
• The NOVEL Project addresses the best practice for verifying the location of nasogastric (NG) feeding tubes in pediatric patients. 
  
  • Pediatric Nasogastric Tube Placement and Verification: Best Practice Recommendations From the NOVEL Project. Nutrition in Clinical Practice. 2018;33:921-927. 
  • Video: Pediatric Nasogastric Tube Placement and Verification: An Instructional Video for Professionals ( English Version), ( Spanish Version), ( Chinese Subtitled Version)
    
  • Video: Pediatric Nasogastric Tube Placement and Verification: An Instructional Video for Caregivers ( English Version), ( Spanish Version), ( Chinese Subtitled Version)
    These videos were made possible due to a generous grant from Cardinal Health.   
    
    

Enteral Access Device Connectors

• Enteral Nutrition Connectors and Misconnections  
  
• ENFit^® Syringe Medication Delivery Procedures:
  
  • Inpatient Procedure
    
  • Home Care Procedure 2017  
    
• ENFit ^® Retail Pharmacy Readiness
  
  

Enteral Access Device Transitions

• Transitioning From Nasogastric Feeding Tube to Gastrostomy Tube in Pediatric Patients: A Survey on Decision-Making and Practice 2021
  Note: Included in this paper is a Pediatric NGT to GT Decision Tree to aid clinician and families in this important decision making process.

EN Product Shortages

• EN Product Shortage News: ASPEN maintains communications with EN product manufacturers, other professional healthcare organizations, and clinicians to stay up to date on the status of EN product shortages. This page provides the latest news on EN shortages and is continually updated as ASPEN learns of new or resolving shortages.
   
• EN Product Shortage Resources: ASPEN provides other helpful resources related to EN product shortages.