Full-Liquid Diet

 

Full-Liquid Diet

·      Normal diet is modified to feed young children, elderly members and sick members of the family. The planning of diet whether normal, soft or liquid has the same basic objective to maintain, or restore the good health of the person through a proper diet. The modifications are based on the changed needs of the individual, due to age or sickness.

 

      Modifications of Normal Diet

      The normal diet is modified to form various diets according to the needs of           the patient. These include various liquid and soft diets.

       Liquid Diets are further divided into Clear-liquid Diet and  Full-liquid Diet.

      Clear-liquid Diet or Clear-fluid Diet  

      includes drinks such as tea, coffee, clear fruit juices, coconut water, sherbets,  extracts of dal, rice, popped cereals, fat-free broth, carbonated drinks. Milk is not included, as it is not a clear liquid. Feeds are offered in small portions of about 20-25 ml every hour or two and the volume is increased gradually as the condition of the patient improves.

    Liquid diet helps to maintain liquid and electrolyte balance, relieve thirst and stimulate the digestion system to function, after an operation or disturbance in the system due to infection. If the fluids are chosen well, the diet can provide 200-500 kcal, some sodium, potassium and ascorbic acid. It does not meet the requirement of most nutrients and is given only for a day or two during a transient phase before moving on to soft and then full diet.

     Full-liquid Diet

   Full-liquid Diet: is served to persons, who are very ill and cannot chew or swallow solid food. It includes all foods, which are liquid at 37°C. To avoid difficulty in swallowing, fibrous foods and irritating spices are not included in this diet. The period of use of this diet depends on the condition of the patient, as the nutrient-density is not high, six or more feedings are given. , It can provide adequate nutrition, with the exception of iron.

   Skim milk powder is added to increase the protein content of the diet. This increases the lactose content of the diet and therefore, it should not be given to persons with low lactase activity. This diet has high calcium and fat content and is low in fiber.

    The energy content of the diet can be increased by adding (a) cream to milk, (b) butter/oil to cereal gruels and dal soups, (c) glucose to juices, milk, (d) using cream in desserts.

 

    Indication of full liquid diet

    Full-liquid diet is prescribed for patients:

•    Post-operatively after clear-liquid diet phase 24 hours

•    Acute infections of short duration,

•    Acute gastrointestinal upset, Crohn's disease, Gastric bypass surgery,  after clear-liquid diet phase.

•    in situations when patient is unable to chew food as cancer patients.

     Daily Food Allowances for the Full Liquid Diet

     Another FULL-LIQUID DIET Suggested Meal Plan

     Holliday-Segar method for baseline fluid requirements:

 

·      1 to 10 kg ______ 100 ml/kg

 

 

·      11 to 20 kg ______ 50 ml/kg for each kg over 10 kg plus 1000 ml

 

·      Over 20 kg _____  20 ml/kg for each kg over 20 kg plus 1500 ml

    Nutritional Considerations

   24 hours prior to admission in to operation it is likely she maintained a clear liquid diet.

    Post-operatively, albumin was very low and p.o. intake was poor, complicated further with nausea, vomiting.  Nutrient needs will be increased related to surgical healing, low BMI.

   Diet order was NPO for 4 days post.op. (totaling 5-6 days including pre.op. diet). And Recommend total parenteral nutrition support.

    After that cler liquid diet advanced to fulls for 48 hours, and then to full liquids for 48 hours before adding soft diet,  crackers and toast.

   supplementation appropriate with diet order was pushed aggressively and followed closely.  Given the following parameters and noted preoperative anticipation that “with the achlorhydria that may occur postoperatively, she will have decreased p.o. absorption”, would early postoperative nutritional support intervention have been the ideal treatment.