Objectives: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tubes are frequently inserted to facilitate long‐term enteral nutrition. There are few studies that address long‐term complications related to feeding tubes. The purpose of this study is to examine the long‐term complications related to tube malfunction and the effect these have on health care use. Methods: In this prospective study, 8 patients who were discharged home on long‐term home enteral nutrition completed a diary that listed 17 potential complications related to enteral feeding devices. Subjects completed the diary on a weekly basis, noting which of the potential complications they were experiencing and the intervention related to that complication. Results: The 8 patients were followed for a mean of 10.5 months. Common tube‐site complications included discharge from the tube site, red or tender stoma, and granulation tissue. Mechanical problems related to tubes plugging, breaking, and falling out were also common. Despite having a dedicated nurse and dietitian to follow these patients, unscheduled health care contacts were frequent and averaged 5.4 contacts over the mean follow‐up time of 10.5 months. Conclusions : In patients receiving long‐term home enteral nutrition, tube and tube‐feeding complications are frequent and result in significant health care use. Given the increasing use of long‐term enteral nutrition, strategies and programs must be developed to assist patients and their families in managing these complications.
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Crosby et al. (2007) studied this question.
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