Clinical indications for weighted enteral feeding tubes

Ruptured, weighted, enteral feeding-tube tip presenting as enteric foreign objects

We present a patient who, upon radiographic examination, was found to have eight metallic-density foreign objects throughout her colon that were identified as pieces of the enteral feeding tube's weighted tip, which was no longer intact. Although this complication is rare, correct identification is important so that the defective feeding tube can be removed and replaced and so that the patient and clinician can be reassured that the metallic foreign objects present minimal risk of complications.

Feeding tubes in endoscopic and clinical practice: the longer the better?

In an attempt to combine successful distal feeding tube positioning and a more prolonged stay without interfering with tube patency and feeding regimens, commercially available 105-cm polyurethane feeding tubes were compared with experimental tubes 125 cm and 145 cm long. The technique for endoscopic positioning at the bedside of the patient was standardized. Forty-five patients who required intraduodenal or intrajejunal enteral feeding in the intensive care unit were randomly assigned to one of the three tube-length groups. Even the 105-cm short feeding tubes were able to be introduced beyond the duodenojejunal junction, although insufficient tube length remained for tube fixation at the nose. The longer variants, however, were positioned significantly (p < 0.01) deeper in the intestine, with enough spare tube length for slack formation in the stomach and fixation at the nose. Tubes were electively removed in 29% of the patients. Irrespective of tube length, premature removal by the patient (in 36%) or by the nurse (in 11%) was rather high. Tube blockage was irremediable in 9%. Feeding tubes survived on average 10.6 days in all three tube-length groups, despite the fact that many drugs were administered by tube as well. The successful, easy, and fast endoscopic positioning of feeding tubes far into the intestine and at the patient's bedside may further expand the possibility for enteral feeding. Moreover, polyurethane materials are well tolerated, and increasing the tube length does not interfere with tube patency or feeding plans.

Complications of enteral nutrition

Complications may arise during enteral feeding that are usually related to the diameter and rigidity of the tube or the delivery, composition, and sterility of the feed uses. By using a soft, fine bore tube to deliver a sterile feed of known composition, by continuous infusion rather than as a bolus, most of these complications can be avoided.