| activity factor |
|
a factor used in the equation to determine energy needs that takes into consideration activity level (e.g. ambulatory vs. nonambulatory) |
| anabolism |
|
a physiological state of building tissue. |
| atrophy |
|
the wasting away of a tissue or organ due to prolonged inactivity. |
| basal energy expenditure (BEE) |
|
energy expended by the body at complete rest. |
| blood urea nitrogen (BUN) |
|
the amount of nitrogen associated with urea in the blood. High values are associated with dehydration and compromised kidney function. |
| bolus feeding |
|
a feeding of up to 480 ml of formula within a 30 - 60 minute time frame. |
| branched chain amino acids (BCAA) |
|
leucine, isoleucine, and valine. |
| carnitine |
|
an intracellular lipid carrier molecule. |
| catabolism |
|
the breaking down of tissue or molecules. |
| continuous drip feeding |
|
the provision of formula in an ongoing manner in small amounts. |
| cyclic TPN |
|
TPN administration regime whereby nutrients are infused at night, but not during the day. |
| dietary fiber |
|
indigestible carbohydrate. |
| diuresis |
|
water release from the kidneys. |
| drug-nutrient interaction |
|
a reaction between a medication and a nutrient that may have adverse outcomes for drug action or nutritional status. |
| dumping syndrome |
|
a physiologic response related to the rapid emptying of the stomach contents into the small intestine. Water is drawn into the intestines resulting in nausea, cramping, and diarrhea. The concomitant drop in blood volume causes a sympathetic nervous system response. |
| dysphagia |
|
difficulty swallowing. |
| electrolyte |
|
mineral which conducts electricity when dissolved in water. |
| emulsification |
|
the mixing of two substances that are not normally mixable with the use of a substance that can mix with each. |
| enteral nutrition |
|
nutrient intake via the gastrointestinal tract. |
| enteritis |
|
inflammation of the intestinal tract. |
| enterocutaneous fistula |
|
an opening between the intestines and the skin. |
| enteropathy |
|
disease of the intestinal tract. |
| esophagostomy |
|
an opening created into the esophagus. |
| fistula |
|
an abnormal opening between two organs. |
| free water |
|
available water; unbound water. |
| gastrostomy |
|
an opening created into the stomach. |
| glutamine |
|
an amino acid that serves as a nitrogen shuttle and a fuel to the GI tract. |
| gut hypertrophy |
|
growth/regeneration of the GI tract. |
| hematocrit |
|
volume of the blood that is composed of red blood cells. A high hematocrit indicates dehydration. |
| hemothorax |
|
presence of blood in the chest cavity. |
| high biological value protein |
|
protein that is efficiently used by the body. Animal proteins (except gelatin) are high biological value proteins. |
| hydration status |
|
fluid status. |
| hydrolysis |
|
the splitting apart of a molecule with water. |
| hydrolyzed protein |
|
predigested protein (amino acids). |
| hyperemesis gravidarum |
|
morning sickness. |
| hypertonic |
|
having a higher osmolality than the comparison solution. |
| hypoalbuminemia |
|
low blood albumin concentration. |
| hypokalemia |
|
low blood potassium level. |
| hypophosphatemia |
|
low blood phosphorus level. |
| ileus |
|
paralysis of at least part of the GI tract. |
| indirect calorimetry |
|
the estimation of energy expenditure via the measurement of oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production. |
| infarction |
|
the cutting off of blood supply. |
| inflammatory bowel disease |
|
pathology of the intestines such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Can impair digestion. |
| injury factor |
|
factor in the calculation of energy needs that accounts for the patient's state of stress. |
| isotonic |
|
having approximately the same osmolality of the comparison solution. |
| jejunostomy |
|
an opening created into the jejunum. |
| ketones |
|
molecules created from fatty acid breakdown. |
| lactose intolerance |
|
an inability to digest lactose because of insufficient lactase enzyme resulting in cramping, bloating, and/or diarrhea. |
| lipid nephrosis |
|
condition of fat buildup in the kidneys. |
| medium chain triglycerides (MCT) |
|
triglycerides with fatty acids consisting of 8-10 carbons in the carbon chain. |
| mesenteric artery thrombosis |
|
blood clot in an artery in the abdominal cavity. |
| metabolic acidosis |
|
low blood pH associated with a metabolic disturbance in the production of bicarbonate. |
| metabolic alkalosis |
|
high blood pH associated with a metabolic disturbance in the production of bicarbonate. |
| modular formula |
|
a formula consisting of a singular macronutrient. A complete diet can be formulated by mixing modular formulations. |
| nasoduodenal |
|
a feeding tube that enters the nose and ends in the duodenum. |
| nasogastric |
|
a feeding tube that enters the nose and ends in the stomach. |
| nasojejunal |
|
a feeding tube that enters the nose and ends in the jejunum. |
| normoglycemia |
|
normal blood glucose concentration. |
| NPO |
|
Latin: non per os; "nothing by mouth." |
| nutritional recovery syndrome |
|
a condition that occurs when a malnourished person is feed too aggressively resulting in hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia, and lactose intolerance. |
| obligatory fluid output |
|
the minimum amount of urine output necessary to excrete waste products. |
| osmolality |
|
particles of solute per kilogram of solvent. |
| osmolarity |
|
particles of a solute per liter of solvent. |
| osmotic gradient |
|
the difference in concentration between two solutions on either side of a semipermeable membrane. |
| ostomy |
|
a surgically created opening. |
| pancreatitis |
|
inflammation of the pancreas, which results in severe pain upon secretion of digestive juices. |
| percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) |
|
the insertion of a feeding tube into the stomach which is pulled out of the body through an incision in the abdominal wall. |
| pneumothorax |
|
presence of air in the chest cavity. |
| polymeric formula |
|
an enteral formula composed of intact macronutrients. |
| portal system |
|
the blood vessels that connect to the liver. |
| pulmonary function |
|
lung function. |
| RDA |
|
Recommended Dietary Allowances; the United States' standard for adequate consumption of nutrients by healthy individuals. |
| rebound hypoglycemia |
|
low blood glucose due to a slow reaction of insulin levels to an abrupt cessation of a dextrose infusion. |
| renal solute load (RSL) |
|
the amount of wastes that must be excreted by the kidneys. |
| regurgitation |
|
the backflow of GI contents. |
| renal threshold |
|
the maximum amount of a substance that can be present in the bloodstream without spilling out into the urine. |
| residual volume |
|
the volume of enteral formula left in the stomach. |
| residue |
|
undigested materials. |
| saline |
|
salt solution. |
| sepsis |
|
infection. |
| short bowel syndrome |
|
characteristic symptoms, including impaired digestion and absorption, resulting from removal of a portion of the small intestine. |
| soluble fiber |
|
dietary fiber that can dissolve in water. |
| thrombosis |
|
blood clot. |
| tolerance |
|
the degree to which symptoms arise from a formula infusion. |
| trace element |
|
mineral needed in small amounts. |
| transferrin |
|
a protein that carries iron in the blood. |
| transitional diets |
|
a series of diets that run the gamut from very easily digested (clear liquid) through a regular diet. |
| transnasal |
|
through the nose. |
| transpyloric |
|
through the pyloric sphincter. |
| tube feeding |
|
an enteral feeding utilizing a tube that delivers nutrients directly into the GI tract. |
| turbidity |
|
condition of being cloudy. |