Enteral Feeding Pump Rate Dose Calculator

Enteral Feeding Pump Rate Calculator

Total amount of formula in the bag/bottle.

How long the feeding should last.

Standard formulas are often 1.0, 1.2, or 1.5 kcal/mL.

About Enteral Feeding Rate Calculations

Enteral nutrition, commonly known as tube feeding, involves delivering nutrition directly into the stomach or small intestine. Precise calculation of the pump flow rate is essential to ensure the patient receives the prescribed volume of formula over the correct duration without causing intolerance symptoms such as bloating, aspiration, or diarrhea.

How to Calculate Pump Flow Rate

The calculation for setting an enteral feeding pump is a straightforward relationship between volume and time. Most modern pumps require the rate to be set in milliliters per hour (mL/hr).

The Formula:

Flow Rate (mL/hr) = Total Volume (mL) ÷ Duration (Hours)

For example, if a patient requires 1500 mL of formula delivered continuously over 20 hours:

• Volume: 1500 mL
• Time: 20 hours
• Calculation: 1500 ÷ 20 = 75 mL/hr

Calculating Total Caloric Intake

In addition to volume, understanding the caloric load is vital for nutritional management. Formula density varies, typically ranging from 1.0 kcal/mL (standard) to 2.0 kcal/mL (concentrated for fluid restrictions).

Calorie Formula:

Total Calories (kcal) = Total Volume (mL) × Caloric Density (kcal/mL)

If the patient in the example above is using a 1.5 kcal/mL formula:

• 1500 mL × 1.5 kcal/mL = 2250 kcal total per day.

Continuous vs. Cyclic Feeding

The flow rate will change significantly based on the feeding schedule:

• Continuous Feeding: Feeds run for 24 hours. This results in the lowest hourly rate, often tolerated best by critically ill patients.
• Cyclic Feeding: Feeds run for a specific window (e.g., 12 hours overnight). This requires a higher hourly rate but allows the patient freedom from the pump during the day.

Safety Considerations

Always verify the calculated rate against the physician's order. When initiating feeds, it is common practice to start at a lower "trophic" rate (e.g., 10-20 mL/hr) and advance by 10-20 mL every 4-8 hours until the goal rate calculated above is reached. This helps prevent refeeding syndrome and GI intolerance.

function calculateEnteralRate() { // Get input values var volumeInput = document.getElementById('targetVolume'); var timeInput = document.getElementById('infusionTime'); var densityInput = document.getElementById('caloricDensity'); var resultDiv = document.getElementById('efResult'); // Parse values var volume = parseFloat(volumeInput.value); var time = parseFloat(timeInput.value); var density = parseFloat(densityInput.value); // Validation if (isNaN(volume) || volume <= 0) { alert("Please enter a valid Total Volume greater than 0."); return; } if (isNaN(time) || time 0) { totalCalories = volume * density; hasCalories = true; } // Display Results document.getElementById('displayRate').innerHTML = flowRate.toFixed(1) + " mL/hr"; document.getElementById('displayVolume').innerHTML = volume.toFixed(0) + " mL"; document.getElementById('displayDrops').innerHTML = flowRatePerMin.toFixed(2) + " mL/min"; if (hasCalories) { document.getElementById('displayCalories').innerHTML = totalCalories.toFixed(0) + " kcal"; } else { document.getElementById('displayCalories').innerHTML = "N/A"; } // Show result container resultDiv.style.display = "block"; }