Placement of feeding tubes using fluoroscopy guidance and over-the-wire technique: A technical review

Nutritional support is essential for improving the outcome in critically ill patients. Enteral nutrition possesses advantages over total parenteral nutrition in that it maintains the physiologic barrier function of the gastrointestinal mucosa. Short-term enteral nutrition can be achieved through transnasal feeding tubes. Traditionally, feeding tubes have been placed at bedside in a blind fashion. However, blind tube placement is unreliable as it may result in improper positioning of the tubes. Numerous complications arising from misplacement have been reported in the literature. A number of modalities may be used in order to improve the accuracy and safety of transnasal feeding tube placement. Fluoroscopy is widely accepted for this purpose. Together with the use of water-soluble contrast media and over-the-wire technique, fluoroscopy-guided placement of nasogastric or nasojejunal feeding tubes offers a higher rate of technical success while decreasing procedure time as well as the incidence of procedure-related complications.

The use of nasointestinal feeding tubes in postoperative enteral nutrition of long gap esophageal atresia / 中国小儿急救医学

Objective To assess the benefit of intraoperatively placed nasointestinal feeding tubes for early postoperative enteral nutrition.Methods The retrospective study was carried out on 19 cases of in-fants with long gap esophageal atresia who underwent one-stage operation in Xinhua Hospital from January 2006 to December 2013.Patients were divided into two groups according to whether the transanastomotic na-sointestinal feeding tubes(TNFT)were placed.Demographics,associated anomalies,operative findings,com-plications,duration of enteral nutrition(EN),length of stay were analyzed.Results Thirty-seven patients had long gap esophageal atresia and nineteen underwent one-stage operation.Eight patients were identified as TNFT group while eleven patients were identified as nonfeeding tube(NFT)group.There was no significant differences between the two groups in gestational age,birth weight,associated anomalies,anastomotic leak, weight gain,ICU-free days and length of stay(P>0.05).But the ventilator-free days(23.5 d vs.19.3 d), first EN time(0.8 d vs.9.1 d)and total EN feeding time(15.9 d vs.21.4 d)between the two groups were significantly different(P<0.05 ).Conclusion Intraoperatively placed TNFT may lead to earlier EN feeding and shorter parenteral nutrition duration,but a larger prospective study would be required to prove the benefits and ensure the safety.

The role of the pharmacist in determining the method of administration of medicines in suspension through a feeding tube / 医薬品情報学

<b>Objectives</b>: To optimize the treatment of patients on tube feeding, it is important to ascertain whether medicines are appropriate for administration by gastrostomy and nasogastric tubes.  In this study, we evaluated the drug information services provided to medical staff by clinical pharmacists related to 109 patients administered medication via a feeding tube in a neurological ward.<br><b>Design and Methods</b>: We analyzed the records of drug information services provided to medical staff from January 2006 to December 2007 at the Higashi Nagoya Hospital.  We classified drug information services for avoiding obstruction of the feeding tube and chemical changes into four categories: ‘formulation changes’, ‘medication changes’, ‘incompatibilities’ and ‘administration method’, and evaluated the acceptance rate of the pharmacists’ recommendations for drug therapy via feeding tube.<br><b>Results</b>: Drug information related to formulation and medication changes accounted for 130 and 88 cases, respectively.  Information related to incompatibilities accounted for 19 cases, involving anticipated chemical changes related to concurrent administration of drugs.  Information related to administration methods accounted for 24 cases.  The acceptance rate for information by medical staff was 92.0%.<br><b>Conclusions</b>: Drug information to medical staff by pharmacists contributes to improved safety for patients administered medication via feeding tubes.  The acceptance rate for drug information was high, and the provision of drug information by pharmacists in the neurological ward was considered useful.