Association between medication use and adverse gastroenterologic events in patients receiving enteral nutrition therapy at a University Hospital

Developing guidance for feeding tube administration of oral medications

BACKGROUND

Drug administration through feeding tubes presents many challenges to the healthcare provider. There is little information available on medications than can be delivered safely when crushed and what efforts can be implemented to minimize clogging the feeding tube. Our institution requested a comprehensive examination of all oral medications for the feeding tube route.

METHODS

This report is a synopsis of the physical evaluation of 323 different oral medications for their appropriateness for feeding tube administration with distal site in either the stomach or jejunum. A worksheet was created for each medication. This document contained a review of the chemical and physical properties that would contribute to delivery of the medication. Each medication was then studied for the degree of disintegration, pH, osmolality, and potential to form clogs. For drugs that needed to be crushed, the volume of water needed to dissolve the drug, time for that process, and volume needed to rinse the tube after administration was also studied.

RESULTS

The results of this review are summarized in a table and based on a composite of the documents cited, tests conducted, and author's judgements based all the data collected. Thirty-six medications were identified as inappropriate for feeding tube administration, and an additional 46 medications were identified as inappropriate for direct jejunal administration.

CONCLUSION

The information produced by this study will enable clinicians to make informed choices in selecting, compounding, and rinsing medications through feeding tubes. Using the template provided, they will be able to evaluate a drug not studied here for potential issues in feeding tube administration.

Associations of hyperosmolar medications administered via nasogastric or nasoduodenal tubes and feeding adequacy, food intolerance and gastrointestinal complications amongst critically ill patients: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Adequate nutrition is essential during critical illness. However, providing adequate nutrition is often hindered by gastro-intestinal complications, including feeding intolerance. It is suggested that hyperosmolar medications could be causally involved in the development of gastro-intestinal complications. The aims of the present study were 1) to determine the osmolality of common enterally administered dissolved medications and 2) to study the associations between nasogastric and nasoduodenal administered hyperosmolar medications and nutritional adequacy as well as food intolerance and gastro-intestinal symptoms.

METHODS

This retrospective observational cohort study was performed in a medical-surgical ICU in the Netherlands. Adult critically ill patients receiving enteral nutrition and admitted for a minimum ICU duration of 7 days were eligible. The osmolalities of commonly used enterally administrated medications were measured using an osmometer. Patients were divided in two groups: Use of hyperosmolar medications (>500 mOsm/kg) on at least one day during the first week versus none. The associations between the use of hyperosmolar medications and nutritional adequacy were assessed using multiple logistic regression analysis. The associations between hyperosmolar medication and food intolerance as well as gastrointestinal symptoms were assessed using ordinal logistic regression.

RESULTS

In total 443 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of the assessed medications, only three medications were found hyperosmolar. We observed no associations between the use of hyperosmolar medications and nutritional adequacy in the first week of ICU admission (caloric intake β -0.27 95%CI -1.38; 0.83, protein intake β 0.32 95%CI -0.90; 1.53). In addition, no associations were found for enteral feeding intolerance, diarrhea, obstipation, gastric residual volume, nausea and vomiting in ICU patients receiving hyperosmolar medications via a nasogastric tube. A subgroup analysis of patients on duodenal feeding showed that postpyloric administration of hyperosmolar medications was associated with increased risk of diarrhea (OR 138.7 95%CI 2.33; 8245).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that nasogastric administration of hyperosmolar medication via a nasogastric tube does not affect nutritional adequacy, development of enteral feeding intolerance and other gastro-intestinal complications during the first week after ICU admission. During nasoduodenal administration an increased diarrhea incidence may be encountered.

Constipation in Elderly Patients with Noncancer Pain: Focus on Opioid-Induced Constipation

Constipation is a common and often debilitating condition in the elderly, which may be caused by underlying disease conditions, structural abnormalities in the bowel, and a variety of medications such as anticholinergics, antidepressants, and opiates. In this review, we focus on opioid-induced constipation (OIC), which is often underrecognized and undertreated in the elderly. When opioid therapy is initiated, healthcare providers are encouraged to evaluate risk factors for the development of constipation as part of a thorough patient history. To this end, the patient assessment should include the use of validated instruments, such as the Bristol Stool Scale and Bowel Function Index, to confirm the diagnosis and provide a basis for evaluating treatment outcomes. Healthcare providers should use a stepwise approach to the treatment of OIC in the elderly. Conventional laxatives are a first-line option and considered well tolerated with short-term use as needed; however, evidence is lacking to support their effectiveness in OIC. Moreover, because of the risk of adverse events and other considerations, such as chewing difficulties and swallowing disorders, conventional oral laxatives may be inappropriate for the treatment of OIC in the elderly. Thus, the availability of new pharmacologic agents such as the peripherally acting µ-opioid receptor antagonists methylnaltrexone and naloxegol, which target the underlying causes of OIC, and the secretagogue lubiprostone may provide more effective treatment options for elderly patients with OIC.