Home Nasogastric Feeds

Background: Home enteral nutrition (HEN) is a safe method for providing nutrition to children with chronic diseases. Advantages of HEN include shorter hospitalizations, lower cost, and decreased risk of malnutrition‐associated complications. Follow‐up after hospital discharge on HEN is limited. The purpose of this study was to look at children discharged on nasogastric (NG) feeds to assess follow‐up feeding status and impact on growth. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of pediatric patients discharged from Mount Sinai Medical Center on NG feeds between January 2010 and March 2013. Results: A total of 87 patients were included. Average age was 1.2 years. The most common diagnoses were congenital heart disease (47%), metabolic disease (17%), neurologic impairment (10%), liver disease (9%), prematurity (8%), and inflammatory bowel disease (6%). At most recent follow‐up, 44 (50.6%) were on full oral feeds, 8 (9.2%) were still on NG feeds, 9 (10.3%) had a gastrostomy tube placed, 9 (10.3%) were deceased, and 17 (19.5%) had transferred care or were lost to follow‐up. Average time to discontinuation of NG feeds was 4.8 months. Change in body mass index from hospital discharge to follow‐up visit 6 to 12 weeks after discharge was statistically significant, from a mean (SD) of 13.78 (2.82) to 14.58 (2.1) (P = .02). Change in weight z score was significant for neurologic impairment (?1.35 to ?0.04; P = .03). Height z score change was significant for prematurity (?3.84 to ?3.34; P = .02). There was no significant change in height or weight z scores for the other diagnoses. Conclusions: NG feeds can help to improve short‐term growth after hospital discharge in children with chronic illnesses.