Enteral Nutrition Prescription: Joint Recommendations from the Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine and the Portuguese Society of Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition

Authors

  • Ana Pessoa Serviço de Medicina, ULS do Médio Ave, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal; Núcleo de Estudos de Nutrição Clínica, Sociedade Portuguesa de Medicina Interna; Núcleo de Estudos de Geriatria, Sociedade Portuguesa de Medicina Interna; Associação Portuguesa de Nutrição Entérica e Parentérica https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6881-1657
  • Paulo Almeida Núcleo de Estudos de Nutrição Clínica, Sociedade Portuguesa de Medicina Interna; Núcleo de Estudos de Geriatria, Sociedade Portuguesa de Medicina Interna; Serviço de Medicina Interna, ULS São João, Porto; Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4879-559X
  • João Pinho Associação Portuguesa de Nutrição Entérica e Parentérica; Serviço de Nutrição, ULS do Médio Ave, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3047-2848
  • Inês Rego de Figueiredo Núcleo de Estudos de Nutrição Clínica, Sociedade Portuguesa de Medicina Interna; Egas Moniz School of Health and Science, Monte da Caparica, Portugal; Centro de Responsabilidade Integrada de Tratamento Cirúrgico de Obesidade, ULS de São José, Lisboa, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6492-7185
  • Mariana Santos Serviço de Nutrição, ULS São João, Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0161-4568
  • Rafaela Veríssimo Núcleo de Estudos de Geriatria, Sociedade Portuguesa de Medicina Interna; Serviço de Medicina, ULS Gaia/Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4102-6744
  • Ricardo Fernandes Serviço de Cuidados Paliativos, ULS Gaia/Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal; Núcleo de Estudos de Medicina Paliativa, Sociedade Portuguesa de Medicina Interna https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2100-5831
  • Paulo Lopes Associação Portuguesa de Nutrição Entérica e Parentérica; Unidade Cuidados Continuados Arganil - Hospital Dr. Fernando Valle, Arganil, Portugal; Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Arganil, Arganil, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6523-0005
  • Lino Mendes Associação Portuguesa de Nutrição Entérica e Parentérica; H&TRC – Health and Technology Research Center, Lisbon School of Health, Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, Portugal; Laboratório de Nutrição da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7237-6272
  • Ricardo Marinho Núcleo de Estudos de Nutrição Clínica, Sociedade Portuguesa de Medicina Interna; Associação Portuguesa de Nutrição Entérica e Parentérica; Clínica de Anestesiologia, Medicina Intensiva, Emergência e Urgência, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António, ULS de Santo António, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7091-3911
  • Aníbal Marinho Associação Portuguesa de Nutrição Entérica e Parentérica; Clínica de Anestesiologia, Medicina Intensiva, Emergência e Urgência, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António, ULS de Santo António, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9160-8649

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24950/rspmi.2870

Keywords:

Enteral Nutrition, Internal Medicine, Malnutrition, Nutritional Support

Abstract

Disease-related malnutrition is a major public health concern in Portugal, with high prevalence among hospitalized patients, particularly in Internal Medicine wards and older adults. It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, higher risk of complications, prolonged hospital stays, readmissions, and substantial healthcare costs. Enteral nutrition is a cornerstone of medical nutrition therapy, enabling the prevention and treatment of malnutrition in patients with a functioning gastrointestinal tract who are unable to meet their nutritional requirements through oral intake alone.

This document presents joint recommendations from the Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine and the Portuguese Society of Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition, aiming to provide a practical, evidence-based framework for the prescription, administration, and monitoring of enteral nutrition via feeding tube. Key concepts and standardized terminology are reviewed, along with indications and contraindications, selection of access routes, types of enteral formulas, nutritional targets, methods of administration, strategies for clinical and biochemical monitoring, together with its most frequent complications and recommended approach. By systematizing best practices in enteral nutrition for medical patients, these recommendations seek to promote the standardization of care, support clinical decision-making, and improve patient outcomes, while contributing to more efficient and cost-effective healthcare delivery.

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Published

2026-11-12

How to Cite

1.
Pessoa AS, Almeida P, Pinho J, Rego de Figueiredo I, Santos M, Veríssimo R, et al. Enteral Nutrition Prescription: Joint Recommendations from the Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine and the Portuguese Society of Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition. RPMI [Internet]. 2026 Nov. 12 [cited 2026 Nov. 12];(XX). Available from: https://revista.spmi.pt/index.php/rpmi/article/view/2870

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