How to Calculate Goal Rate for Enteral Feeding

Enteral Feeding Goal Rate Calculator

1.0 kcal/mL (Standard) 1.2 kcal/mL (High Protein/Concentrated) 1.5 kcal/mL (Calorically Dense) 2.0 kcal/mL (Fluid Restricted) Custom Density

Use 24 for continuous feeding; less for cyclic feeding.

Calculation Results

Total Daily Volume: mL/day

Goal Hourly Rate: mL/hr

Understanding Enteral Feeding Goal Rate

In clinical nutrition, the goal rate is the specific volume of formula delivered via a feeding tube per hour to ensure a patient meets their nutritional requirements. This calculation is vital for dietitians and medical professionals managing patients who cannot meet their needs orally.

The Goal Rate Formula

Calculating the enteral goal rate involves a simple two-step mathematical process:

1. Total Daily Volume: Total Calories Needed ÷ Formula Caloric Density.
2. Goal Rate: Total Daily Volume ÷ Infusion Hours per Day.

Real-World Example

Imagine a patient with the following requirements:

• • Energy Requirement: 1,800 kcal/day
• • Formula: 1.5 kcal/mL
• • Duration: 24-hour continuous infusion

Step 1: 1800 kcal / 1.5 kcal/mL = 1200 mL total volume per day.
Step 2: 1200 mL / 24 hours = 50 mL/hr.

Factors Influencing the Calculation

• Caloric Density: Standard formulas are usually 1.0 or 1.2 kcal/mL. Patients with fluid restrictions (like those with CHF or renal failure) often require 1.5 to 2.0 kcal/mL.
• Feeding Schedule: While 24-hour continuous feeding is common in acute care, "cyclic feeding" (e.g., feeding over 12 or 16 hours overnight) requires a much higher hourly rate to meet the same calorie goal.
• Tolerance: Clinicians often start feeding at a lower "trophic" rate (e.g., 10-20 mL/hr) and advance to the goal rate over 24-48 hours.

var densitySelect = document.getElementById('formulaDensity'); var customContainer = document.getElementById('customDensityContainer'); densitySelect.onchange = function() { if (this.value === 'other') { customContainer.style.display = 'block'; } else { customContainer.style.display = 'none'; } }; function calculateGoalRate() { var kcal = parseFloat(document.getElementById('targetKcal').value); var hours = parseFloat(document.getElementById('feedingHours').value); var densityValue = document.getElementById('formulaDensity').value; var density; if (densityValue === 'other') { density = parseFloat(document.getElementById('customDensity').value); } else { density = parseFloat(densityValue); } // Validation if (isNaN(kcal) || kcal <= 0) { alert("Please enter a valid caloric target."); return; } if (isNaN(density) || density <= 0) { alert("Please enter a valid formula concentration."); return; } if (isNaN(hours) || hours 24) { alert("Please enter a valid feeding duration between 1 and 24 hours."); return; } // Calculation Logic var totalVolume = kcal / density; var hourlyRate = totalVolume / hours; // Display Results document.getElementById('totalVolumeResult').innerText = totalVolume.toFixed(0); document.getElementById('hourlyRateResult').innerText = hourlyRate.toFixed(1); document.getElementById('enteralResult').style.display = 'block'; // Scroll to result smoothly document.getElementById('enteralResult').scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest' }); }