Enteral Feed Calculator

The Enteral Feed Calculator estimates daily caloric requirements and formula volume based on weight, height, and clinical factors. This tool helps dietitians and nurses ensure precise tube feeding delivery for better patient outcomes. Whether you are managing critical illness or post-surgical recovery, this calculator provides accurate nutritional targets. It simplifies complex metabolic equations into actionable clinical decisions.

Enter patient's age in years
Enter patient's weight in kilograms
Enter patient's height in centimeters
Recommended: 0.8-1.2 g/kg/day for normal needs, 1.2-2.0 g/kg/day for stress
Standard: 25-35 mL/kg/day. Adjust for renal, cardiac, or fluid restrictions.

How Daily Caloric Requirements Is Calculated

Daily caloric requirements represent the total energy a patient needs from enteral formula to maintain or restore health while unable to eat orally. To ensure accuracy, this tool uses the Harris-Benedict equation, a gold standard in clinical nutrition for estimating Basal Energy Expenditure (BEE).

BEE = 10 × weight(kg) + 6.25 × height(cm) - 5 × age(y) + s

Where:

  • s = +5 for males, -161 for females
  1. First, calculate the BEE using the patient's age, gender, weight, and height to find their resting metabolic rate.
  2. Next, multiply the BEE by the Activity Factor and the Stress Factor to adjust for movement and illness severity.
  3. Finally, divide the Total Energy Needs by the caloric density of the selected formula to find the required volume.

What Your Daily Caloric Requirements Means

This number tells you exactly how much formula to administer over 24 hours to meet the patient's energy needs safely. Understanding this result helps you choose the right formula type and infusion rate to avoid complications like refeeding syndrome or fluid overload.

  • Critical Care Support: If the result is high, such as 2,500-3,000 kcal, prioritize high-protein formulas to support healing from severe trauma or sepsis.
  • Fluid-Restricted Patients: For patients needing 1,200-1,800 kcal but limited fluid, use a high-calorie formula (1.5-2.0 kcal/mL) to meet energy goals without exceeding fluid limits.
  • Standard Maintenance: A result of 1,500-2,000 kcal typically indicates a standard polymeric formula is appropriate for stable patients recovering from surgery.

Important

Always start feeding at a lower rate (e.g., 25-50% of goal) and advance slowly over 24-48 hours to check tolerance. Watch for signs like high gastric residuals or diarrhea before reaching the full calculated volume.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a registered dietitian or physician to tailor feeding regimens to individual patient needs, comorbidities, and clinical status.

Reassess the patient's needs weekly or whenever their clinical condition changes significantly to ensure the feeding plan remains effective and safe.