Small bore feeding tubes, also known as enteral access devices, are used to provide essential nutrition and medication to patients at risk of malnutrition and dehydration due to an inability to ingest orally. An estimated 7M feeding tubes are placed each year in the U.S. alone. Clogging is one of the most frequent mechanical complications of feeding tubes. Tubes are more likely to become clogged when powdered, crushed, acidic, or alkaline medications or blenderized feeding formulas containing particulates are delivered through the small inner lumen, or when tubes are not routinely flushed following feedings. Reported clogging rates vary, ranging from 9 – 35%. Clogging of nasoenteral (NE) and nasogastric (NG) feeding tubes are considered to be underestimated and underreported, actual rates are likely much higher. Based on a 25% clogging rate, US medical facilities treat an estimated 1.75M clogged feeding tubes annually. 

Key Takeaways

• Acquiring, training and applying TubeClear for feeding tube de-clogging is simple and well within
  the skill capabilities of Licensed Nurses.
• TubeClear is a proven technology that is effective in clearing enteral feeding tube clogs.
• TubeClear has proven to be a cost effective technology to apply in a long-term care environment.
• TubeClear provides greater resident comfort and confidence in a provider’s care service.

Feeding tubes (Tubes) are used to deliver enteral nutrition to patients who are unable to safely ingest nutrients and medications orally, a population at elevated risk of malnutrition and dehydration. Unfortunately, these Tubes have a propensity for becoming clogged. Staff will attempt to unclog Tubes using standard bedside techniques including warm water flushes or chemical enzymes. However, not only are these practices time-consuming, often they are unsuccessful, and the Tube requires replacement. Our facility (Level
2, Williamson Medical Center, Franklin, TN) evaluated an alternative Tube declogging methodology from September 2021 – July 2023. The TubeClear® System
(TubeClear, Actuated Medical, Inc., Bellefonte, PA, see Figure 1) was developed to resolve clogs from various indwelling
Tubes. Study objectives were to explore TubeClear’s ability to unclog indwelling Tubes and monitor any potential safety issues.