Do nasal bridles improve nutritional delivery in patients with feeding tubes?

Safety and effectiveness of the nasal bridle securement device to retain feeding tubes in adult patients in the intensive care unit: An observational study

BACKGROUND

Nasal bridle securement devices were introduced to our adult intensive care unit (ICU) in October 2016 as an alternative for securing small-bore feeding tubes in patients at higher risk of inadvertent tube dislodgement.

METHOD

We assessed high-risk ICU patients from October 2014 to March 2019 to address three objectives. First, we prospectively monitored ICU patients with a nasal bridle for all types of adverse events. Second, we used propensity score methods to create a (1:1) matched historical comparison group (ie, tape group). We then compared the number of inadvertent tube dislodgements and the caloric intake between the tape and nasal bridle groups.

RESULTS

In the prospective group (n = 64), there were 20 adverse events, 12 of which were inadvertent tube dislodgements. Forty-eight participants in the nasal bridle group were matched with participants in the historical group. Thirty-five percent (17/48) of patients in the tape group had at least one inadvertent tube dislodgement; in the nasal bridle group, 48% (23/48) had at least one inadvertent tube dislodgement, although this only occurred in 7 of 48 (15%) patients after the nasal bridle had been inserted. The tape group achieved a lower median percentage of total caloric intake received (66.0%) compared with that of the nasal bridle group (86.1%; P = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

In the subpopulation of ICU patients with a small-bore feeding tube who demonstrate a higher risk of inadvertent tube dislodgement, use of the nasal bridle may be associated with a higher caloric intake, even though it does not completely prevent tube dislodgement.

Nasogastric Bridles are Associated with Improved Tube-Related Outcomes in Children

OBJECTIVE

To compare tube-related outcomes in children with standard tape versus nasal bridle securement of nasogastric tubes (NGTs).

STUDY DESIGN

Single-center, retrospective, correlational study of outcomes from the time of NGT placement until full oral feeds or durable-tube placement. Outcomes of interest included NGT dislodgements, length of stay, emergency department (ED) encounters, radiographic exposures, and adverse skin outcomes. Negative binomial regression and logistic regression were used to analyze differences between groups.

RESULTS

582 children had NGTs secured traditionally [43% female; age at therapy initiation 2.6 months (SD 8.1)] and 173 received nasal bridles [55.5% female; age at therapy initiation 8.4 months (SD 11.8)]. Children with bridled NGTs were 16.67 times less likely to experience ≥1 dislodgement (OR=0.06, 95% CI 0.04, 0.09); 2.5 times less likely to have one more ED visit (OR=0.4, 95% CI 0.19, 0.82), and 4.76 times less likely to require one more radiographic exposure (OR=0.21, 95% CI 0.14, 0.33) than their non-bridled NGT counterparts (all p values <0.02). The mean initial hospital length of stay was 28 and 54 days in the bridled and standard care group respectively (p<0.001). Overall, 62.4% children with bridled NGTs and 77.1% children with unbridled NGTs progressed to full oral feedings and required no further therapy (p<0.001). Adverse skin outcomes were rare in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Children with bridled NGTs experienced fewer dislodgements, days in the hospital, ED encounters, and radiographic exposures than children with traditionally secured NGTs. The majority of children in both groups progressed to full oral feedings. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Observation of inadvertent tube loss in ICU: effect of nasal bridles

Background:

safe placement and securement of feeding tubes are essential to establishing early enteral nutrition. Nasogastric or nasojejunal feeding tubes are often inadvertently removed, and using a nasal bridle can reduce the number of tube replacements required.

Aim:

to review current nasal bridle practices on one intensive care unit. Over a 3-month period, nasal bridle use was recorded to measure unintentional tube loss and tube duration (the time a tube remained in situ).

Method:

an observational service evaluation.

Findings:

109 patients were recruited; 205 tubes were passed and 77 bridles were inserted, with 42% (n=46) of the bridles placed on day 1. Tubes secured with tape were more likely to be dislodged than tubes secured with a bridle, P=0.0001. Duration of tubes remaining in situ was significantly longer in patients who had a bridle fitted on day 1, P=0.0001 compared with tubes secured with tape.

Conclusion:

securing a tube with a nasal bridle from day 1 is independently associated with reduced tube loss, increased duration of tube use, and likelihood that the tube would reach redundancy when it was no longer required.