Mr. Avery is a 77-year-old retired engineer. He is 5'10" tall and weighs 171 pounds. He suffered a stroke, which left him with left-sided paralysis, and he is having difficulty swallowing so he is unable to meet his nutritional needs via oral intake at this time.
Mr. Avery is receiving continuous enteral tube feedings and has an order for oral phenytoin. Which method is most appropriate for administering the medication?
A) Stop the formula infusion for an hour before and after administering the drug.
B) Crush the drug and administer it with the enteral formula.
C) Administer the medication through the tube and flush with 100 mL of water afterward.
D) Have Mr. Avery take the medication by mouth.
E) Crush the medication and dissolve it in water to administer through the feeding tube.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Phenytoin absorption can be affected by enteral feeding formulas, so stopping the formula for an hour before and after administering the drug helps ensure proper absorption.

Mr Avery Is a 77-Year-Old Retired Engineer