There may be a greater risk of pneumonia following a malpositioned feeding tube.*
In one study of patients who experienced a malpositioned feeding tube, 40% developed pneumonia at the former site of the malpositioned tube.*
| * Giantsou, E.; Gunning, K. J. Blindly inserted nasogastric feeding tubes and thoracic complications in intensive care. Health, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust. 2010. 2(10): 1135-1141. |
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In Pennsylvania, 56% of nasogastric feeding tube misplacements were reported as Serious Events.1
1.2% of those misplacements resulted in death.1
In 2016, a $5 million verdict was awarded following a patient’s death due to a misplaced feeding tube at a Philadelphia-area hospital.2
1. Wallace, SC. Data Snapshot: Complications Linked to Iatrogenic Enteral Feeding Tube Misplacements. Pennsylvania Patient Safety Advisory, 2017; 14:1-60.
2. McCrystal, Laura. (2016, 16 May). Montco jury awards $5 million in hospital death [online]. The Inquirer. Accessed July 8, 2019
Of the 1.2 million small bore feeding tubes placed, about 0.1-0.3% of patients die as a result of blind misplacement.*
About 1.2–2 percent of small bore feeding tubes that are placed blindly at the bedside enter the airway undetected. *
| * Krenitsky, J. Blind Bedside Placement of Feeding Tubes: Treatment or Threat? Practical Gastroenterology. 2011; March, 32-42. |
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