Causes of nasoenteral tube obstruction in tertiary hospital patients

Medication delivery errors in outpatients with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: effect on tube feeding replacement

Patients with enteral access usually receive oral drugs via feeding tubes and correct drug administration remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to identify common medication delivery errors (MDEs) in outpatients with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and evaluate their association with the need for tube replacement due to deterioration or clogging. A 2-year retrospective study that comprised adult outpatients with a placed/replaced PEG tube and whose electronic medical record included home medication was carried out. Treatment with medication that should not be crushed and administered through an enteral feeding tube was considered an MDE. We included 269 patients and 213 MDEs (20% of oral prescriptions) were detected in 159. Ninety-two percent of the medications associated with MDEs could be substituted by appropriate formulations. Tube replacement due to obstruction was needed in 85 patients. MDEs were associated with increased risk for tube replacement (OR 2.17; 95% CI 1.10-4.27). Omeprazole enteric-coated capsules were associated with the greatest risk (OR 2.24; 95% CI 1.01-4.93). PEG outpatients are highly exposed to MDEs, leading to a significant increase in the odds of tube replacement, mainly when treated with omeprazole. The use of appropriate alternative therapies would prevent unnecessary adverse events.

Incidence and time until the first traction or obstruction of the nasoenteral tube in hospitalized adults

OBJECTIVE

To determine incidence and time until first traction or obstruction of nasoenteral tube in hospitalized adults.

METHODS

Prospective double cohort study that included 494 adults who were users of nasoenteral tubes as inpatients in two clinical units and two surgical units in a teaching hospital. The occurrence of tube tractions and obstructions was monitored daily between 2017 and 2019. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate time until the first event.

RESULTS

Tube traction occurred in 33% of the sample, and the incidence of the event was higher on the first five days of tube use. Tube obstruction incidence was 3.4% and grew as tube use time increased.

CONCLUSION

Traction incidence was higher at the beginning of the period of use, whereas obstruction incidence grew as tube use time increased.