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20% of patients discharged with EN – Tuesday Tube Facts

Did you know…?

More than 20% of patients discharged with EN have readmissions related to EN, many within 90 days of initiating EN.[1]

Quality improvement interventions targeting post-discharge care to address these causes may decrease hospital readmissions in this high-risk and medically complex population of patients.[1]

References:

  1. Palchaudhuri, S., Mehta, S.J., Snider, C.K., Parsikia, A., Hudson, L., Compher, C., Lewis, J.D., Wu, G.D. and Pickett-Blakely, O. (2022), Causes of readmissions for patients discharged on enteral nutrition. J Parenter Enteral Nutr.. Accepted Author Manuscript. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpen.2331

Acidic Fluids May Coagulate or Thicken Clogs – Tuesday Tube Facts

Did you know…?

The use of acidic liquids to clear a clogged feeding tube may make the problem worse.[1,2]

Enteral feeding proteins coagulate or thicken in an acidic environment.[1,2]

References:

  1. Dandeles LM, Lodolce AE. Efficacy of agents to prevent and treat enteral feeding tube clogs. Ann Pharmacother. 2011;45:676-680.
  2. Williams NT.Medication administration through enteral feeding tubes. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2008;65:2347-2357.

Fluoroscopy EAD Replacement Costs – Tuesday Tube Facts

Did you know…?

Using fluoroscopy to replace a clogged feeding tube can cost as much as $1,000.[1]

In addition, replacement often exposes the patient to additional radiation.[2]

References:

  1. Fisher C, Blalock B. Clogged feeding tubes: a clinician’s thorn. Pract Gastroenterol. 2014;38:16-22.
  2. 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.

Clogging: A Frequent Complication in EADs – Tuesday Tube Facts

Did you know…?

Clogging is one of the most frequent mechanical complications of feeding tubes.[1,3]

Reported clogging rates vary from 9 – 35%.[1-7] With clogging of nasogastric (NG) feeding tubes considered under-reported, the actual rate may be much higher.[3]

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. Blumenstein I, Shastri YM, Stein J. Gastroenteric tube feeding: techniques, problems and solutions. World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(26):8505-8524.
  4. Pancorbo-Hidalgo PL, García-Fernandez FP, Ramírez-Pérez C. Complications associated with enteral nutrition by nasogastric tube in an internal medicine unit. J Clin Nurs. 2001;10(4):482-490.
  5. Marcuard SP, Stegall KS. Unclogging feeding tubes with pancreatic enzyme. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 1990;14(2):198-200.
  6. Frizzi JD, Ray PD, Raff JB. Enteral nutrition by a forward surgical team in Afghanistan. South Med J. 2005;98(3):273-278.
  7. Bourgault AM, Heyland DK, Drover JW, Keefe L, Newman P, Day AG. Prophylactic pancreatic enzymes to reduce feeding tube occlusions. Nutr Clin Pract. 2003;18(5):398-401.