A device designed for healthcare professionals and caregivers assists in figuring out the suitable circulate charge of method or medicine delivered via enteral feeding methods. This sometimes entails inputting patient-specific knowledge such because the prescribed quantity and the entire time allotted for supply. An instance can be calculating the hourly charge for a affected person needing 1200 mL of method over a 24-hour interval.
Correct supply of enteral vitamin is essential for affected person well-being, stopping issues akin to underfeeding, overfeeding, and gastrointestinal misery. Traditionally, calculations had been carried out manually, rising the chance of human error. Digital instruments supply elevated precision and effectivity, contributing to enhanced affected person security and streamlined workflows. These instruments have change into more and more essential with the rising complexity of affected person care and the necessity for exact dietary administration.
This text will additional discover the sensible purposes of those digital instruments, differing types obtainable, and finest practices for his or her utilization in varied healthcare settings.
1. Formulation Quantity
Formulation quantity is a essential parameter in calculating feeding tube charges. Correct dedication of this quantity is prime to making sure sufferers obtain the prescribed quantity of vitamin. This part explores the varied sides of method quantity because it pertains to feeding tube charge calculations.
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Prescribed Quantity
The prescribed quantity is the entire quantity of method a affected person must obtain inside a selected timeframe, sometimes a 24-hour interval. This worth is decided by a doctor or dietitian based mostly on the affected person’s particular person dietary wants and medical situation. As an example, a affected person may require 1500mL of method per day. Getting into this exact quantity into the calculator is step one in figuring out the right hourly charge.
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Supply Schedule
The supply schedule dictates how the prescribed quantity is distributed all through the day. This might contain steady feeding, intermittent bolus feeding, or a mixture of each. The chosen schedule influences how the method quantity is factored into the speed calculation. Steady feeding requires an hourly charge, whereas bolus feeding requires calculating the amount per bolus.
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Residual Quantity
Residual quantity refers back to the quantity of method remaining within the abdomen earlier than the subsequent feeding. Monitoring residual quantity is essential for assessing gastric emptying and stopping issues. Excessive residual volumes could necessitate changes to the prescribed method quantity and subsequent recalculation of the feeding charge. This ensures affected person tolerance and minimizes the chance of aspiration.
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Formulation Focus
Some formulation are extra concentrated than others, offering extra energy or vitamins per milliliter. The focus of the method have to be thought of when calculating the amount required to satisfy a affected person’s particular dietary wants. The next focus could imply a smaller general quantity is required, impacting the calculated charge.
Understanding these sides of method quantity is crucial for using a feeding tube charge calculator successfully. Correct enter of those variables ensures exact calculation of the feeding charge, in the end optimizing affected person security and dietary assist.
2. Time
Time is an important parameter in calculating feeding tube charges, straight influencing the speed at which method is delivered. The overall time allotted for method supply, sometimes over a 24-hour interval, serves because the denominator in charge calculations. This time ingredient is intrinsically linked to the prescribed quantity, establishing a essential relationship between quantity and time. For instance, a affected person requiring 1800 mL of method over 24 hours necessitates a special hourly charge than a affected person requiring the identical quantity over 12 hours. The interaction between quantity and time is central to correct charge dedication. Totally different feeding schedules, akin to steady or intermittent, additional affect the position of time in these calculations. Steady feeding entails a continuing charge over an prolonged interval, whereas intermittent feeding requires calculating the speed for shorter, particular durations.
Sensible purposes spotlight the significance of time in varied scientific situations. For sufferers with compromised gastrointestinal perform, slower charges over longer durations could also be obligatory to reinforce tolerance and stop issues. Conversely, sufferers requiring speedy dietary replenishment could profit from greater charges delivered over shorter intervals. The correct enter of time, whether or not in hours or minutes, is paramount for making certain secure and efficient administration of enteral vitamin. In essential care settings, the place exact fluid and nutrient supply is significant, meticulous consideration to time is crucial. Even slight deviations within the calculated charge, ensuing from incorrect time enter, can have important scientific penalties.
In abstract, the correct consideration of time is prime to the right utilization of a feeding tube charge calculator. It dictates the supply charge, influences scientific selections based mostly on affected person wants, and contributes to the secure and efficient administration of enteral vitamin. Understanding the interrelationship between time, quantity, and supply schedules is essential for healthcare professionals liable for managing sufferers receiving enteral feeding. This understanding ensures optimum dietary assist and minimizes the chance of issues.
3. Circulate Price
Circulate charge, the amount of method delivered per unit of time, represents the essential output of a feeding tube charge calculator. This calculated charge ensures sufferers obtain the prescribed vitamin inside the designated timeframe. The calculator considers each the entire quantity required and the period of administration to find out the suitable circulate charge, expressed as milliliters per hour (mL/hr) or milliliters per minute (mL/min) relying on the feeding methodology. As an example, if a affected person requires 1800 mL of method over 24 hours, the calculator determines a circulate charge of 75 mL/hr. This exact circulate charge ensures constant nutrient supply and aids in stopping issues related to speedy or gradual administration. The connection between circulate charge, prescribed quantity, and time is prime to secure and efficient enteral feeding.
The correct dedication of circulate charge has important sensible implications. In steady feeding, sustaining a constant circulate charge prevents fluctuations in nutrient supply, selling optimum absorption and minimizing gastrointestinal misery. In intermittent feeding, the circulate charge influences the period of every bolus supply, making certain manageable volumes are administered inside cheap timeframes. Contemplate a state of affairs the place a affected person requires 800 mL of method delivered by way of intermittent bolus feeding each 4 hours. The calculator determines the required circulate charge for every bolus to make sure supply inside the allotted time, stopping discomfort and potential aspiration. Deviations from the calculated circulate charge can result in underfeeding, overfeeding, or aspiration, underscoring the scientific significance of correct charge dedication.
In conclusion, circulate charge stands as a pivotal parameter in enteral vitamin, straight impacting affected person outcomes. The feeding tube charge calculator serves as a necessary device for figuring out the exact circulate charge required to ship the prescribed vitamin safely and successfully. Understanding the interaction between circulate charge, quantity, and time is essential for healthcare professionals concerned in managing enteral feeding. Correct circulate charge calculations reduce the chance of issues and contribute to optimum affected person care. This precision turns into notably essential in weak affected person populations, the place even minor deviations can have important penalties.
4. Affected person Security
Affected person security is paramount in enteral vitamin, and the feeding tube charge calculator performs a vital position in mitigating dangers. Incorrectly calculated feeding charges can result in severe issues, together with underfeeding, overfeeding, and aspiration. Underfeeding may end up in malnutrition, delayed therapeutic, and elevated susceptibility to an infection. Overfeeding, conversely, may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and metabolic imbalances. Aspiration, a probably life-threatening complication, happens when method enters the lungs, resulting in pneumonia or respiratory misery. The calculator minimizes these dangers by making certain correct circulate charge dedication, thereby selling secure and efficient nutrient supply.
Contemplate a state of affairs involving a post-operative affected person requiring exact dietary assist. An inaccurate calculation leading to a speedy circulate charge might overwhelm the affected person’s digestive system, resulting in vomiting and potential aspiration. Conversely, a gradual charge might lead to insufficient caloric consumption, hindering restoration. Using a feeding tube charge calculator considerably reduces the chance of such errors, making certain the affected person receives the right amount of method on the applicable charge. This precision is especially essential in weak populations, akin to infants or critically in poor health sufferers, who’re extra inclined to the hostile results of feeding errors.
In conclusion, the feeding tube charge calculator is an indispensable device for enhancing affected person security in enteral vitamin. Correct circulate charge calculations are important for stopping issues related to incorrect feeding charges. By minimizing the dangers of underfeeding, overfeeding, and aspiration, the calculator contributes to improved affected person outcomes and promotes general well-being. This concentrate on accuracy highlights the calculator’s significance in varied healthcare settings, the place meticulous consideration to element is essential for delivering optimum affected person care and making certain constructive scientific outcomes.
5. Accuracy
Accuracy in calculating feeding tube charges is paramount for making certain affected person security and reaching desired dietary outcomes. Exact calculations are important for stopping issues related to overfeeding or underfeeding, notably in weak affected person populations. This part explores the multifaceted nature of accuracy because it pertains to feeding tube charge calculations.
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Knowledge Enter Precision
Correct knowledge entry is the inspiration of dependable calculations. Inputting incorrect values for prescribed quantity, method focus, or administration time can result in important errors within the calculated circulate charge. For instance, transposing digits when getting into the prescribed quantity may end up in a drastically totally different circulate charge, probably resulting in underfeeding or overfeeding. Meticulous consideration to element throughout knowledge entry is essential.
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Unit Consistency
Sustaining consistency in items is crucial for avoiding calculation errors. Mixing items, akin to milliliters and ounces or hours and minutes, with out applicable conversion can result in inaccurate circulate charges. As an example, calculating a charge based mostly on milliliters however programming the pump in ounces may end up in a big discrepancy within the delivered quantity. Cautious verification of unit consistency all through the calculation course of is critical.
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Calculator Performance Verification
Common verification of the calculator’s performance is essential. This could contain checking the calculator’s output in opposition to guide calculations or utilizing recognized values to substantiate its accuracy. For instance, calculating the speed for the standard quantity over a normal time can function a fast test of the calculator’s efficiency. Periodic verification ensures the calculator stays a dependable device for correct charge dedication.
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Medical Correlation
Calculated circulate charges ought to all the time be correlated with the affected person’s scientific standing. Whereas the calculator gives a exact numerical worth, scientific judgment is crucial for assessing the appropriateness of the calculated charge. Elements akin to gastric residuals, affected person tolerance, and general scientific image ought to inform the ultimate determination concerning circulate charge. This integration of calculated knowledge with scientific commentary ensures affected person security and optimum dietary administration.
These sides of accuracy underscore the significance of exact calculations in feeding tube administration. Errors in any of those areas can compromise affected person security and hinder the effectiveness of dietary assist. The feeding tube charge calculator, when used accurately and together with sound scientific judgment, serves as a beneficial device for making certain correct and secure supply of enteral vitamin. Diligence in knowledge entry, unit consistency, calculator verification, and scientific correlation are essential for maximizing the advantages of this device and optimizing affected person outcomes.
6. Effectivity
Effectivity, within the context of enteral vitamin, interprets to the well timed and correct supply of prescribed vitamins whereas minimizing useful resource expenditure. Feeding tube charge calculators contribute considerably to this effectivity by streamlining a course of historically liable to guide calculation errors and time consumption. Contemplate a busy scientific setting the place quite a few sufferers require enteral feeding. Manually calculating circulate charges for every affected person is time-consuming and will increase the chance of errors, probably impacting affected person security and rising workload. A feeding tube charge calculator expedites this course of, liberating up beneficial nursing time for different important affected person care duties. This interprets to improved general workflow and optimized useful resource allocation inside the healthcare setting.
Moreover, the effectivity positive aspects lengthen past mere time financial savings. By making certain correct calculations, the calculator reduces the chance of issues arising from incorrect feeding charges. This, in flip, minimizes the necessity for interventions and changes, additional enhancing effectivity. For instance, an precisely calculated charge reduces the chance of overfeeding and subsequent diarrhea, which might in any other case require further nursing interventions and probably extend hospitalization. This proactive strategy to affected person care contributes to raised useful resource utilization and cost-effectiveness. Furthermore, the usage of digital calculators contributes to standardized follow, decreasing variability and enhancing the general high quality of care.
In abstract, the feeding tube charge calculator stands as a vital device for enhancing effectivity in enteral vitamin. By automating calculations, decreasing errors, and streamlining workflows, it permits healthcare professionals to ship optimum affected person care whereas optimizing useful resource utilization. This enchancment in effectivity interprets to tangible advantages, together with lowered workload, minimized issues, and improved affected person outcomes. The combination of such digital instruments displays a broader motion towards enhancing effectivity and precision in healthcare supply.
7. Digital Instruments
Digital instruments have revolutionized healthcare, and their affect on enteral vitamin, particularly via feeding tube charge calculators, is substantial. These calculators, usually built-in inside bigger digital well being document methods or obtainable as standalone purposes, signify a big development over conventional guide calculation strategies. This shift in direction of digitalization addresses a number of key challenges related to guide calculations, together with the potential for human error, time consumption, and inconsistencies in follow. By automating the calculation course of, digital instruments improve accuracy, effectivity, and standardization, contributing to improved affected person security and outcomes. As an example, a hospital implementing a digital feeding tube charge calculator throughout its items can reduce discrepancies in feeding practices, making certain a constant strategy to dietary assist.
The sensible significance of this digital transformation is obvious in varied scientific situations. Contemplate a essential care setting the place exact fluid and nutrient administration is crucial. A digital calculator built-in with the affected person’s digital well being document can robotically alter feeding charges based mostly on real-time laboratory knowledge, making certain optimum dietary supply. This degree of precision and automation is tough to realize with guide calculations. Moreover, digital instruments usually incorporate security options akin to alerts for inappropriate charges or drug incompatibilities, additional enhancing affected person security. These functionalities reduce the chance of hostile occasions and assist scientific decision-making. The provision of historic knowledge and development evaluation inside digital platforms additionally facilitates ongoing monitoring and analysis of dietary interventions, enabling steady enchancment in affected person care.
In conclusion, digital instruments, notably feeding tube charge calculators, signify a big development in enteral vitamin administration. By enhancing accuracy, effectivity, and standardization, these instruments contribute to improved affected person security and optimized useful resource utilization. Their integration inside fashionable healthcare methods displays a broader shift in direction of data-driven, patient-centered care. Whereas challenges akin to knowledge safety and the necessity for sufficient coaching stay, the advantages of digitalization on this context are plain. Continued growth and implementation of those instruments promise additional developments within the supply of secure and efficient enteral vitamin.
8. Error Discount
Error discount stands as a essential good thing about using a feeding tube charge calculator. Handbook calculation of feeding charges is inclined to human error, probably resulting in important discrepancies between prescribed and delivered vitamin. These errors can come up from easy miscalculations, incorrect unit conversions, or transcription errors. The implications of such errors vary from minor variations in nutrient supply to extreme issues like underfeeding, overfeeding, and even aspiration. A feeding tube charge calculator minimizes this danger by automating the calculation course of, making certain exact and constant outcomes. Contemplate a state of affairs the place a decimal level is misplaced throughout a guide calculation. This seemingly small error may end up in a tenfold distinction within the calculated charge, probably resulting in severe affected person hurt. The calculator eliminates this vulnerability, selling affected person security and decreasing the burden on healthcare suppliers.
The sensible significance of error discount turns into notably evident in advanced scientific settings. In intensive care items, the place sufferers usually require a number of drugs and exact dietary assist, the chance of calculation errors is amplified. A feeding tube charge calculator gives a dependable safeguard, making certain accuracy and consistency in feeding administration, even amidst the demanding and dynamic nature of essential care. Moreover, the usage of calculators promotes standardized follow, decreasing variability amongst healthcare suppliers and contributing to a extra constant degree of care. This standardization is especially essential in settings with excessive employees turnover or the place a number of people are concerned in a affected person’s care. By minimizing the potential for human error, the calculator permits clinicians to concentrate on different essential facets of affected person administration, enhancing general effectivity and high quality of care. For instance, as a substitute of spending time verifying guide calculations, nurses can dedicate extra time to direct affected person interplay and evaluation.
In conclusion, error discount is a basic benefit of using a feeding tube charge calculator. By automating calculations and minimizing the potential for human error, these instruments considerably improve affected person security and enhance the general effectivity of care. The discount in errors interprets to fewer issues, lowered workload for healthcare suppliers, and improved useful resource utilization. Whereas the calculator itself isn’t infallible, its constant utility represents a big development within the pursuit of correct and dependable enteral vitamin supply, in the end contributing to raised affected person outcomes. The continuing growth and integration of those instruments inside healthcare methods mirror a broader dedication to precision and security in affected person care.
9. Dietary Administration
Dietary administration, a essential facet of affected person care, encompasses the great methods employed to make sure sufferers obtain sufficient vitamin. Throughout the context of enteral feeding, the feeding tube charge calculator turns into an integral device for exact dietary administration. It facilitates correct supply of prescribed vitamins, minimizing the dangers related to overfeeding or underfeeding, and contributes to improved affected person outcomes. This part explores the multifaceted connection between dietary administration and the utilization of feeding tube charge calculators.
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Evaluation and Planning
Dietary evaluation types the inspiration of efficient dietary administration. This entails evaluating a affected person’s dietary wants based mostly on elements akin to age, weight, medical situation, and laboratory knowledge. The feeding tube charge calculator performs a key position in translating these assessed wants into actionable plans by exactly calculating the required circulate charge for optimum nutrient supply. For instance, a affected person recovering from surgical procedure could require a better caloric consumption than a affected person with persistent kidney illness. The calculator ensures the prescribed vitamin plan is applied precisely, supporting particular person affected person wants.
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Monitoring and Adjustment
Ongoing monitoring of a affected person’s dietary standing is crucial for adaptive administration. This consists of monitoring parameters like weight, fluid stability, and laboratory values. The feeding tube charge calculator facilitates changes to the feeding routine based mostly on these monitored parameters. As an example, if a affected person constantly displays excessive gastric residuals, the calculated circulate charge could must be lowered, or the feeding schedule adjusted. The calculator ensures these changes are exact, minimizing the chance of additional issues.
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Complication Prevention
Efficient dietary administration goals to stop issues related to enteral feeding. The feeding tube charge calculator contributes considerably to this objective by making certain correct supply of vitamins, decreasing the dangers of overfeeding, underfeeding, and aspiration. Contemplate a affected person with diabetes receiving enteral vitamin. Exact management over the speed of carbohydrate supply, facilitated by the calculator, is essential for sustaining glycemic management and stopping hyperglycemia. The calculator’s precision minimizes the chance of such metabolic issues.
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Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Dietary administration usually entails a multidisciplinary group, together with physicians, dietitians, nurses, and pharmacists. The feeding tube charge calculator serves as a standard device, facilitating communication and collaboration amongst these group members. A clearly calculated and documented circulate charge ensures everybody concerned within the affected person’s care is working with the identical data, selling consistency and minimizing the chance of errors. This streamlined communication contributes to a extra cohesive and efficient strategy to dietary administration.
In conclusion, the feeding tube charge calculator performs a pivotal position in complete dietary administration. Its utilization ensures correct nutrient supply, facilitates ongoing monitoring and changes, aids in stopping issues, and helps interdisciplinary collaboration. This integration of expertise inside dietary administration displays a broader development towards precision and patient-centered care in healthcare. By enhancing accuracy and effectivity, the calculator contributes to improved affected person outcomes and optimizes useful resource utilization inside healthcare settings. This in the end results in higher high quality of care and enhanced affected person well-being.
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
This part addresses widespread inquiries concerning the utilization of feeding tube charge calculators.
Query 1: What’s the main function of a feeding tube charge calculator?
The first function is to precisely decide the circulate charge of method or medicine administered via a feeding tube. This ensures sufferers obtain the prescribed quantity of vitamin inside the designated timeframe, minimizing dangers related to inaccurate supply.
Query 2: Who sometimes makes use of these calculators?
Healthcare professionals, together with physicians, nurses, dietitians, and pharmacists, make the most of these calculators. Caregivers in house settings may use them underneath the steering of a healthcare skilled.
Query 3: How does one guarantee correct calculations?
Accuracy depends on exact knowledge entry. Customers should fastidiously enter the prescribed quantity, method focus, and administration time, making certain constant items. Frequently verifying the calculator’s performance in opposition to recognized values or guide calculations can also be essential.
Query 4: What are the potential penalties of inaccurate calculations?
Inaccurate calculations can result in underfeeding, overfeeding, or aspiration. Underfeeding may end up in malnutrition, whereas overfeeding may cause gastrointestinal misery. Aspiration, the entry of method into the lungs, can result in severe respiratory issues.
Query 5: Are there various kinds of feeding tube charge calculators obtainable?
Calculators exist as standalone instruments, built-in inside digital well being document methods, or accessible as cell purposes. Performance varies, however the core function stays constant: correct circulate charge dedication.
Query 6: What are some great benefits of utilizing a digital calculator over guide calculations?
Digital calculators reduce the chance of human error, improve effectivity by automating the calculation course of, and promote standardized follow, resulting in improved affected person security and outcomes.
Correct and secure administration of enteral vitamin depends on exact calculations. Using a dependable feeding tube charge calculator is an important step in making certain optimum affected person care.
For additional data on sensible purposes and finest practices, seek the advice of the next assets.
Ideas for Using Feeding Tube Price Calculators
Correct calculation of feeding tube charges is essential for affected person security and optimum dietary supply. The next ideas present sensible steering for healthcare professionals and caregivers liable for administering enteral vitamin.
Tip 1: Double-Test Entries
All the time double-check knowledge entered into the calculator. Verify the prescribed method quantity, focus, and administration time are correct. Transposed digits or incorrect decimal placement can result in important errors within the calculated circulate charge.
Tip 2: Unit Consistency is Key
Keep constant items all through the calculation course of. Guarantee all volumes are in milliliters or ounces, and all instances are in hours or minutes. Mixing items with out correct conversion can result in inaccurate circulate charges. Confirm unit settings on any accompanying infusion pumps.
Tip 3: Confirm Calculator Performance
Periodically confirm the calculator’s accuracy. Evaluate its output in opposition to guide calculations utilizing recognized values, or make the most of take a look at instances with predetermined outcomes. This follow ensures the calculator features accurately and gives dependable outcomes.
Tip 4: Contemplate Affected person-Particular Elements
Whereas the calculator gives a exact numerical worth, scientific judgment stays important. Contemplate patient-specific elements akin to gastric residuals, tolerance to feeding, and general scientific standing when figuring out the ultimate circulate charge. Changes could also be obligatory based mostly on particular person affected person response.
Tip 5: Doc Calculations
Keep clear documentation of all calculations and any changes made. This document gives beneficial data for different healthcare suppliers and ensures continuity of care. Documenting the particular calculator used, enter values, and ensuing circulate charge strengthens traceability and accountability.
Tip 6: Common Coaching and Schooling
Common coaching on the right use of feeding tube charge calculators is crucial. Competency in utilizing these instruments, understanding the implications of inaccurate calculations, and deciphering the leads to the context of affected person care are essential for secure and efficient enteral vitamin administration. Academic updates ought to embody any new options or software program updates.
Adherence to those ideas promotes secure and correct enteral vitamin supply, minimizing the chance of issues and contributing to constructive affected person outcomes. Constant utility of those rules reinforces a tradition of security and precision in affected person care.
The next part concludes this complete information on feeding tube charge calculators.
Conclusion
Feeding tube charge calculators are indispensable instruments in fashionable healthcare, making certain correct and environment friendly supply of enteral vitamin. This exploration has highlighted the essential interaction between method quantity, time, and circulate charge, emphasizing the calculator’s position in reaching exact calculations. Affected person security stays paramount, and the calculator’s contribution to minimizing errors and stopping issues like underfeeding, overfeeding, and aspiration is plain. The transition from guide calculations to digital instruments signifies a big development, enhancing accuracy, effectivity, and standardization in dietary administration. This dialogue encompassed the significance of knowledge enter precision, unit consistency, and common verification of calculator performance. The combination of those instruments inside digital well being data and different digital platforms additional streamlines workflows and strengthens interdisciplinary collaboration.
Correct dietary assist is prime to affected person well-being and restoration. Feeding tube charge calculators, by making certain exact and dependable calculations, empower healthcare professionals to ship optimum affected person care. Continued emphasis on correct coaching, adherence to finest practices, and ongoing growth of those digital instruments will additional improve the protection and efficacy of enteral vitamin supply. The dedication to precision on this space displays a broader dedication to enhancing affected person outcomes and advancing the standard of healthcare as a complete.
