Which patient would most benefit from cyclic tube feeding?

• A. Critically ill motorcycle accident victim in the ICU
• B. Status post cerebrovascular accident (CVA) who has initiated oral foods during the day
• C. Post-operative bowel surgery patient who has an ileus
• D. Critically ill patients with diabetes and hyperglycemia

Answer: (B)

Cyclic tube feeding delivers the formula over a limited period each day, typically overnight, so the patient can have daytime oral intake while still meeting nutritional needs. For someone recovering from a cerebrovascular accident who has begun eating by mouth during the day, this pattern supports a gradual transition from tube feeding to full oral intake by providing calories and protein at night without keeping the patient tethered to continuous feeding during waking hours. It also aligns with swallowing rehabilitation and allows the patient to participate in daytime meals more naturally. The other scenarios involve conditions where the gut isn’t ready for feeds (ileus) or where glycemic control in a critically ill patient is paramount, making cyclic feeding less appropriate.