Inclusion Criteria:
ICU patients are eligible for enrolment if they meet all of the following:
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients will be ineligible for enrolment if they meet any of the following:
- Previous or recent surgery which has altered the anatomy of the upper gastrointestinal tract (eg. oesophagectomy, gastrectomy, any gastric anastomosis surgery, gastroplasty, pyloroplasty, pancreaticoduodenectomy [Whipple’s procedure])
- Known gastric malignancy
- Known oesophageal varices
- Current admission for peptic ulceration
- Current mechanical bowel obstruction
- Current gastrostomy, jejunostomy, or surgically-placed enteral tube in situ
- Contraindication to the use of the nose and mouth for enteral tube insertion (eg. recent facial trauma or surgery)
- Receiving nutritional support prior to ICU admission
- Severe coagulopathy (defined by platelet count < 20 and/or international normalized ratio [INR] > 4.0)