What symptom should prompt you to reconsider continuance of enteral nutrition?

Vomiting after feeding is a critical symptom that should prompt a reconsideration of enteral nutrition due to its potential implications for patient safety and wellbeing. If a patient experiences vomiting following enteral feeding, it can indicate several possible complications, including intolerance to the formula, gastrointestinal obstruction, or a significant disruption in bowel function.

Persistently vomiting can lead to further complications such as aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, and dehydration, particularly if the patient is unable to retain the calories and fluids provided through enteral nutrition. This symptom may also indicate that the feeding regimen needs to be reevaluated, potentially requiring adjustments to the type, volume, or administration rate of the enteral nutrition.

In contrast, prolonged oral intake may suggest a transition phase rather than an immediate issue with enteral nutrition. Signs of fatigue and malaise could reflect general health or underlying conditions but do not necessarily indicate an intolerability to enteral feeding specifically. Coughing during feeding can be concerning, but it may not be as immediately critical as vomiting, especially if the coughing is due to aspiration risk rather than direct intolerance to the enteral nutrition. Therefore, the presence of vomiting is a more urgent symptom that requires reassessment of enteral nutrition.