Mar 15, 2024 | Studies & Evaluations
Marcia Belcher, MSN, BBA, RN, CCRN-CSC, CCNS
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.
This is one of the best devices to come out in a long time to allow critical care nurses to do what they do best…care for their patients.
MSN, BBA, RN
Mar 15, 2024 | Studies & Evaluations
Robert Buckley, RN, CCM & Steve Heisa, RN
NeuroRestorative, Riverton, Utah, August 2021
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.
TubeClear is very cost-effective when utilized at long-term care facilities as it decreases inconvenience and discomfort to patients and saves staff time in clearing a clogged feeding tube
RN, CCM, Bucklyn Rose Health
Mar 15, 2024 | Studies & Evaluations
Jesse C. James, CNSC, Williamson Medical Center, Franklin, TN 37067
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.
The TubeClear System is a game changer for clearing blocked NG tubes. Its simple design and ease of use make it a musthave
tool for medical professionals involved with
feeding tubes.
CNSC, Williamson Medical Center
Dec 4, 2019 | Studies & Evaluations
In a recent study published in Nutrition in Clinical Practice by Christopher M. Garrison, Ph.D., RN, CNE, the TubeClear system was found to be significantly more effective at removing clogs from feeding tubes than water or enzyme-based clog-clearing treatments.[1] While water flushes and Clog Zapper seemed to work sometimes, the TubeClear system worked nearly every time regardless of clog type (see Figure 1). In addition, the TubeClear system required less Active Nursing Time and Total Nursing Time than the water or Clog Zapper.
Based on this study, clinicians may save time by clearing clogs with the TubeClear system first.
Figure 1: The TubeClear System restored patency to feeding tubes 93% of the time during the study, compared to 33% and 20% for Clog Zapper and water treatments, respectively.
References:
- Garrison, C. M. Enteral Feeding Tube Clogging: What Are the Causes and What Are the Answers? A Bench Top Analysis. Nutrition in Clinical Practice. 2018. 33(1):147-150.
Dec 1, 2015 | Studies & Evaluations
Feeding tubes are used to deliver enteral nutrition to patients that are unable to ingest nutrients and medications orally and therefore are at risk of malnutrition and dehydration (1).
Unfortunately, the long and narrow inner lumens of small bore feeding tubes used to deliver enteral nutrition and medication to patients often clog for various reasons including, delivery of high viscosity medications, by chemical reactions between feeding formula and medication, or by inadequate tube maintenance (2,3). Clogged feeding tubes can cause patients to go extended periods without nutrition and medication, and attempts to unclog tubes strain
valuable nursing resources. Traditional methods to clear clogged feeding tubes are often unsuccessful, potentially leading to tube replacement, and patient discomfort (2,3,4).
The TubeClear System, an FDA-cleared and CE marked medical device, was developed to clear clogged feeding tubes at bedside while the tube remains in the patient. The system comprises of a reusable Control Box that actuates a single-use Clearing Stem. The Clearing Stem inserts into the feeding tube and the backward and forward motion of the Clearing Stem Tip acts to mechanically disrupt and clear the clogged materials from the feeding tube (5).
An in human case series was completed, documenting twelve cases in which TubeClear was used to clear clogged nasoenteral (NE) feeding tubes. All documented cases were completed by a single licensed healthcare practitioner and were 100% successfulwithout any issues reported by the practitioner and/or patients. The ability to quickly clear clogged feeding tubes while the tube remains in the patient will save healthcare resources, and ease the burden on patients and caregivers.
+ FDA Cleared for clearing occlusions / clogs in Feeding and Decompression Tubes in adult patients that have a Tube size of 6 to 18 Fr.
References:
1. Ireton-Jones C, DeLegge M. Handbook of Home Nutrition Support. Sudburry, MA: Jones and Bartlett; 2007
2. Beyer PL, Matarese LE, Gottschlich MM. Complications of enteral nutrition. 1998.
3. Metheny N, Eisenberg P, McSweeney M. Effect of feeding tube properties and three irrigants on clogging rates. Nurs Res. 1988;37(3):165-169.
4. Smith R, Myers S. 2 devices that unclog feeding tubes. RN. 2005;68(1):36-41; quiz 42.
5. TubeClear System- Clears Clogged Feeding Tubes. 2015;https://www.tubeclear.com/
