Verification of an electromagnetic placement device compared with abdominal radiograph to predict accuracy of feeding tube placement

Background: Use of an electromagnetic placement device (EMPD) facilitates placement of feeding tubes at the bedside. Standard practice for verification of feeding tube placement is via radiographic confirmation. The purpose of this research study was to assess the accuracy of placement of small‐bore feeding tubes (SBFTs) as determined by EMPD interpretation compared with that of abdominal radiograph verification by a radiologist. Methods: This multicenter prospective study enrolled patients requiring bedside feeding tube placement. SBFTs were placed by an experienced investigator using the EMPD. Two abdominal radiographs were then obtained: one after initial SBFT placement and an additional radiograph after injection of contrast. Documentation of location based on clinician interpretation using the EMPD was then compared with radiologist interpretation. Results: The final sample size was 194 patients, including 18 pediatric patients. Patient age ranged from 12 days to 102 years. Median time for tube placement was 12 minutes. Of the 194 patients, only 1 patient had data showing discrepancies between the original EMPD verification and the final abdominal radiograph interpretation, providing a 99.5% agreement. No patient experienced complications during SBFT placement, and 15 patients had inadvertent airway placement that was avoided with the use of the EMPD. Conclusions: There was a high percentage of agreement between EMPD and radiologic interpretation after contrast injection. The EMPD aided in avoiding inadvertent airway placement, with no patient complications. This device can be used safely at the bedside to facilitate placement of feeding tubes, leading to the delivery of early enteral nutrition.     

Implementation of an electromagnetic imaging system to facilitate nasogastric and post-pyloric feeding tube placement in patients with and without critical illness

Background:  Artificial nutrition support is required to optimise nutritional status in many patients. Traditional methods of placing feeding tubes may incur clinical risk and financial costs. A technique facilitating placement of nasogastric and post-pyloric tubes via electromagnetic visual guidance may reduce the need for X-ray exposure, endoscopy time and the use of parenteral nutrition. The present study aimed to audit use of such a system at initial implementation in patients within an acute NHS Trust.
Methods:  A retrospective review was undertaken of dietetic and medical records for the first 14 months of using the Cortrak® system. Data were collected on referral origin, preparation of the patient prior to insertion, placement success rates and need for X-ray. Cost analysis was also performed.
Results:  Referrals were received from primary consultants or consultant intensivists, often on the advice of the dietitian. Fifty-nine percent of patients received prokinetic therapy at the time of placement. Thirty-nine tube placements were attempted. Sixty-nine percent of referrals for post-pyloric tube placement resulted in successful placement. X-ray films were requested for 22% of all attempted post-pyloric placements. Less than half of nasogastric tubes were successfully passed, although none of these required X-ray confirmation. The mean cost per tube insertion attempt was £111.
Conclusions:  This system confers advantages, particularly in terms of post-pyloric tube placement, even at this early stage of implementation. A reduction in clinical risk and cost avoidance related to X-ray exposure, the need for endoscopic tube placement and parenteral nutrition have been achieved. The implementation of this system should be considered in other centres.     

Commercial enteral formulas and nutrition support teams improve the outcome of home enteral tube feeding

Background: The benefits of home enteral tube feeding (HETF) provided by nutrition support teams (NSTs) have been questioned recently, given the growing costs to the healthcare system. This study examined the effect of a specialized home enteral nutrition program on clinical outcome variables in HETF patients. Methods: The observational study included 203 patients (103 women, 100 men; mean age 52.5 years) receiving HETF with homemade diets for at least 12 months before starting a specialized home nutrition program for another 12 months consisting of provision of commercial enteral formulas and the guidance of an NST. Both study periods were compared regarding the number of hospital admissions, length of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and costs of hospitalization. Results: A specialized HETF program significantly reduced the number of hospital admissions and the duration of hospital and ICU stays. The need for hospitalization and ICU admission was significantly reduced, with odds ratios of 0.083 (95% confidence interval, 0.051–0.133, P < .001) and 0.259 (95% confidence interval, 0.124–0.539, P < .001), respectively. Specialized HETF was associated with a significant decrease in the prevalence of pneumonia (24.1% vs 14.2%), respiratory failure (7.3% vs 1.9%), urinary tract infection (11.3% vs 4.9%), and anemia (3.9% vs 0%) requiring hospitalization. The average yearly cost of hospital treatment decreased from $764.65 per patient to $142.66 per year per patient. Conclusions: The specialized HETF care program reduces morbidity and costs related to long‐term enteral feeding at home.     

床旁放置经鼻小肠管的新方法

胃排空障碍是影响危重患者肠内营养实施的重要问题,经小肠喂养是解决方法之一。放置小肠营养管的非手术方法主要包括内镜引导和X线辅助,但这两种方法均需要一定的设备和场所,不利于对危重患者进行床旁实施。近年来出现了多种辅助盲探放置小肠管的新方法,本文对这些方法进行综述。     

床旁空肠营养管徒手置入技术在危重症病人营养治疗中的应用研究

目的:探讨床旁空肠营养管徒手置入技术在危重症病人肠内营养(EN)治疗中的安全性、有效性和实用性. 方法:鼻空肠管组病人采用美国CORPAK公司CORFLO导管置入行鼻空肠营养29例.鼻胃管组采用普通胃管置入行EN支持30例.观察鼻空肠管组置管成功率,置管时间和不良反应.对比观察两组病人血清清蛋白(ALB)、前清蛋白(PA)、血红蛋白(Hb)、APACHEⅡ评分、入住ICU时间、置管费用和ICU总费用等指标的变化,以及反流、腹胀、腹泻、应激性溃疡和吸入性肺炎等并发症的发生率. 结果:床旁经鼻空肠营养管徒手置入成功率为93.1％,置管时间为(19.3-6.8) min,无不良反应.鼻空肠管组病人营养指标和APACHEⅡ评分改善明显,且入住ICU时间、ICU总费用和并发症的发生率均低于对照组. 结论:床旁空肠营养管徒手置入技术在危重症病人EN支持治疗中,具有操作简单、安全、置管成功率高、并发症低、病人营养状况改善明显的优点.     

Determination of a practical pH cutoff level for reliable confirmation of nasogastric tube placement

Background: Enteral feeding is a common method of nutrition support when oral intake is inadequate. Confirmation of correct nasogastric (NG) tube placement is essential. Risks of morbidity/mortality associated with misplacement in the lung are well documented. Studies indicate that pH ≤4 confirms gastric aspirate, but in pediatrics, a pH of gastric aspirate is often >4. The goal of this study was to determine a reliable and practical pH value to confirm NG tube placement, without increasing the risk of not identifying a misplaced NG tube. Methods: Pediatric inpatients older than 4 weeks receiving enteral nutrition (nasogastric or gastrostomy) were recruited over 9 months. Aspirate samples were pH tested at NG tube placement and before feedings. If pH >4, NG tube position was confirmed by chest radiograph or further investigations. In addition, intensive care unit (ICU) patients who required endotracheal suctioning were recruited, and endotracheal aspirate samples were pH tested. Results: A total of 4,330 gastric aspirate samples (96% nasogastric) were collected from 645 patients with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of 1.0 years (0.3–5.2 years). The mean (standard deviation [SD]) pH of these gastric samples was 3.6 (1.4) (range, 0–9). pH was >4 in 1,339 (30.9%) gastric aspirate samples, and of these, 244 were radiographed, which identified 10 misplaced tubes (1 with pH 5.5). A total of 65 endotracheal aspirate samples were collected from 19 ICU patients with a median (IQR) age of 0.6 years (0.4–5.2 years). The mean (SD) pH of these samples was 8.4 (0.8) (range, 6–9.5). Conclusion: Given that the lowest pH value of endotracheal aspirate sample was 6, and a misplaced NG tube was identified with pH 5.5, it is proposed that a gastric aspirate pH ≤5 is a safer, reliable, and practical cutoff in this population.     

X线辅助超滑导丝法置鼻空肠营养管

目的:解决上消化道存在功能和(或)解剖连续性中断的病人实施非永久性肠内营养支持的途径问题.方法:采用X线辅助超滑导丝法置鼻空肠营养管.结果:置管成功率为97.96%,操作时间为5～11(平均7.4±2.8)min;导管位置全部符合临床实施肠内营养支持要求,导管留置时间为28～92(平均84.4±7.2)天.置管、导管留置、经导管实施肠内营养支持过程中所有病人耐受良好,无不适及并发症发生.结论:X线辅助超滑导丝法置鼻空肠营养管,是解决上消化道存在功能和(或)解剖连续性中断的病人实施非永久性肠内营养支持途径问题的首选之道.     

Home enteral tube feeding in patients with inherited metabolic disorders: safety issues

BACKGROUND: Many children with inherited metabolic disorders (IMD), at risk of hypoglycaemia and metabolic decompensation, are dependent on long-term home overnight enteral tube feeding but its safety issues have not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To identify common safety issues and carer pressures for patients with IMD on home enteral tube feeds (HETF). METHODS: Thirty-four patients (53% male; median age 4.1, range: 1.2-15.8 years), with IMD on home continuous overnight tube feeds were recruited. They were all following specialized feeding regimens. A questionnaire, administered by face-to-face interview with carers identified family members involved in feeding, training they received; child safety issues; equipment reliability and carer night time disturbance. RESULTS: The principal problems were: carer sleep disturbance (100%); tube entanglement (71%); untrained secondary carers (71%); faulty pumps (50%); tube blockages (45%); faulty equipment (32%); and child tampering with pumps and feeding equipment (29%). CONCLUSIONS: Significant risks for children on HETF with IMD were identified, potentially leading to metabolic decompensation and hospitalization. The safety of feeding equipment, lack of training of extended family members and practical support for carers requires urgent attention.     

The impact of home enteral tube feeding in everyday life: a qualitative study

Advances in clinical and technical areas, combined with developments in community support services, have enabled people to receive enteral tube feeding at home in the UK. Research has focused on clinical and technical aspects, and people's experiences have largely been explored through the audit of after-care services. The research reported in the present paper consisted of a qualitative study in which a small number of people under going enteral tube feeding at home and their carers were interviewed. The study took place in one area of northern England. The interviews explored aspects of daily life, focusing on decision-making and adaptation, and revealed positive feelings about the process of tube feeding, as well as areas of difficulty and concern. Opportunities to improve practice and services are identified from these accounts.     

A 3-month survey of enteral tube feeding and parenteral feeding: a baseline for improvement

This paper presents the results of a 3-month survey of tube feeding and parenteral nutrition in hospital in-patients, undertaken to provide information for the development of guidelines by the Hospitals Nutritional Advisory Group and a baseline for future monitoring. This represents the first steps in the audit cycle. The results highlighted the following problems.

• 1. 

  Total parenteral nutrition is often continued after bowel sounds have returned.
• 2. 

  Enteral tube feeding is often instituted for only a very short period of time and may be of little nutritional benefit to the patient.
• 3. 

  Significantly lower amounts of energy and nitrogen are received by the patients in the enterally tube-fed group than is indicated by their estimated energy and nitrogen requirements.
• 4. 

  The medical staff noted the start of feeding in 60% of the case notes, however, the aims of feeding and the reason for commencing feeding were never documented. Nutritional aims were defined in the case notes by dietitians for all tube-fed and 18 of the 20 patients who were parenterally fed.

     

The evolving role of post-ligament of Trietz nasojejunal feeding in enteral nutrition and the need for improved feeding tube design and placement methods

Nutrition support is an important link in the chain of therapy for intensive care unit patients. The early institution of nutrition support significantly reduces the incidence of septic complications, reduces mortality, and shortens hospital stay. Unfortunately, impaired gastrointestinal function, particularly gastric atony, restricts the use of nasogastric enteral tube feeding, and the use of this route of administration in these patients can lead to regurgitation, aspiration, and the development of pneumonia. Postpyloric enteral feeding was heralded as a means of overcoming many of these problems. Overall, the results of controlled studies do not support a role of postpyloric duodenal feeding in reducing the incidence of aspiration pneumonia. As a consequence, post-ligament of Treitz nasojejunal enteral feeding is proposed as the technique of choice in these patients. Feeding tube design must incorporate a gastric aspiration port to overcome problems of gastroesophageal acid reflux, duodenogastric bile reflux, and increased gastric acid secretion, problems that occur during "downstream" jejunal feeding. Tube placement technique will need to be refined and patients will need to receive a predigested enteral diet. In postoperative surgical patients in the intensive care unit, there is also a need for a newly designed dual-purpose nasogastric tube capable initially of providing a means of undertaking gastric aspiration and decompression and subsequently a means of initiating nasogastric enteral feeding.     

内镜下放置鼻空肠管在危重病人的应用

目的:总结危重病人内镜辅助下床边放置鼻空肠管的经验,探讨内镜置管的具体方法及其在危重病人中的应用.方法:1997年1月至2005年1月间共107例重症病人接受内镜辅助下放置鼻空肠管,观察置管的时间、成功率、并发症及留置时间.结果:置管时间为(12.3±7.8)min,成功率为98.1%,未发生置管相关并发症,置管后并发症发生率为2.8%(3/107).导管留置时间为(20.7±8.4)d.结论:内镜辅助放置鼻空肠管具有简单、快捷、安全,易于护理、病人痛苦小和易于耐受等优点,尤其适于危重病人使用.     

Relationship between feeding tube site and respiratory outcomes

Background: It is unclear if placing feeding tubes postpylorically to prevent respiratory complications is worth the extra effort. This study sought to determine the extent to which aspiration and pneumonia are associated with feeding site (controlling for the effects of severity of illness, degree of head‐of‐bed elevation, level of sedation, and use of gastric suction). Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on a large data set gathered prospectively to evaluate aspiration in critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients. Feeding site was designated by attending physicians and confirmed by radiography. Each patient participated in the study for 3 consecutive days, with pneumonia assessed by the simplified Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score on the fourth day. Tracheal secretions were assayed for pepsin in a research laboratory; the presence of pepsin served as a proxy for aspiration. A total of 428 patients were included in the regression analyses performed to address the research objectives. Results: As compared with the stomach, the percentage of aspiration was 11.6% lower when feeding tubes were in the first portion of the duodenum, 13.2% lower when in the second/third portions of the duodenum, and 18.0% lower when in the fourth portion of the duodenum and beyond (all significant at P < .001). Pneumonia occurred less often when feedings were introduced at or beyond the second portion of the duodenum (P = .020). Conclusions: The findings support feeding critically ill patients with numerous risk factors for aspiration in the mid‐duodenum and beyond to reduce the risk of aspiration and associated pneumonia.     

术中经皮穿刺空肠营养管或经鼻空肠营养管置入对食管癌患者围手术期营养支持的影响

目的比较经鼻空肠营养管及经皮穿刺空肠营养管对食管癌患者术后营养支持的影响。 方法我科2011年2月至2012年3月同组手术医师收治食管癌患者,根据病情接受经右胸及上腹正中两切口食管癌根治手术（Ivor-Lewis）或经左/右颈、右胸及上腹正中三切口食管癌根治手术。选择性使用经鼻空肠营养管(经鼻空肠营养组,n=48)及经皮穿刺空肠营养管(经皮空肠穿刺组,n=38)放置空肠营养管,术后早期给予肠内营养支持。 结果（1） 本研究86例食管癌患者,通过NRS 2002量表进行评估,营养风险发生率为25.58%,两组患者术前营养风险评估差异无统计学意义（P=0.806）;（2）经皮空肠穿刺组患者以三切口手术为主,手术时间较经鼻空肠营养组明显延长（P=0.000）,两组术后全身炎症反应综合征时间（P=0.114）和术后住院时间（P=0.460）比较差异无统计学意义,表明两组患者手术创伤差异无统计学意义;（3）两组患者肠内营养开始给予时间相当（P=0.561）,但经皮空肠穿刺组患者给予足量肠内营养时间较经鼻空肠营养组晚（P=0.032）,可能与手术医师顾虑穿刺管腹腔瘘,导致肠内营养给予加量较为谨慎有关;（4）两组患者对营养管舒适度评价方面,经鼻空肠营养组患者自身耐受能力不同,评分为6.00（3.00）分,而经皮空肠穿刺组患者评分仅为1.00（3.00）分,经皮空肠穿刺组患者感觉营养管的舒适程度显著好于经鼻空肠营养组（P=0.000）。结论两种空肠营养管置入方式均安全可靠,术后营养支持效果良好;经皮穿刺空肠营养管置入患者感觉更为舒适,耐受力好,推荐使用。     

Efficacy of tube feeding in binge-eating/vomiting patients: a 2-month randomized trial with 1-year follow-up

Background: In many binge‐eating/vomiting patients, abstinence could not be obtained from classical treatments. Since the authors showed that tube feeding (TF) reduced such episodes in anorexia nervosa (AN)–hospitalized patients, they carried out a randomized trial on the efficacy of TF plus cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) vs CBT alone in AN and bulimia nervosa adult outpatients. Methods: The authors randomly assigned 103 ambulatory patients to receive 16 sessions of CBT alone (n = 51) or CBT plus 2 months of TF (n = 52). The main goal was abstinence of binge‐eating/vomiting episodes. Other criteria were gains in fat‐free mass and muscle mass improvements in nutrition markers, and quality of life (SF‐36 Health Survey), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), and anxiety (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale) scores. Evaluations were performed at 1, 2 (end of treatment), 5, 8, and 14 months (analysis of variance). Results: TF patients were rapidly and more frequently abstinent at the end of treatment (2 months) than the CBT patients: 81% vs 29% (P < .001). Fat‐free mass, biological markers, depressive state (?58% vs ?26%), anxiety (?48% vs ?15%), and quality of life (+42% vs +13%) were more improved in the TF group than in the CBT group (P < .05). One year later, more TF patients remained abstinent (68% vs 27%, P = .02); they were less anxious, were less depressed, and had better quality of life than the CBT patients (P < .05). Conclusion: TF combined with CBT offered better results than CBT alone.