Feasibility of International Proposed Standardized Enteral Connector for Semi-Solid Formula Feeding

Michio Maruyama; Shohei Iijima; Nobuya Ishibashi; Michio Inukai; Tetsuharu Oriishi; Naruo Kawasaki; Naomi Kurata; Yutaka Suzuki; Isao Tabei; Masahiro Chiba; Etsuko Nakamura; Takashi Higashiguchi

doi:10.1159/000492674

Feasibility of International Proposed Standardized Enteral Connector for Semi-Solid Formula Feeding

Ann Nutr Metab. 2018;73(3):169-176. doi: 10.1159/000492674. Epub 2018 Sep 4.

Authors

Michio Maruyama^{1

2}, Shohei Iijima^{1

3}, Nobuya Ishibashi^{1

4}, Michio Inukai^{1

5}, Tetsuharu Oriishi^{1

6}, Naruo Kawasaki^{1

7}, Naomi Kurata^{1

8}, Yutaka Suzuki^{1

9}, Isao Tabei^{1

10}, Masahiro Chiba^{1

11}, Etsuko Nakamura^{1

12}, Takashi Higashiguchi^{1

13}

Affiliations

¹ New Connector Working Group, Japanese Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan.
² Department of Surgery, Tanashi Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
³ Department of Nutritional Oncology and Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan.
⁴ Department of Surgery, Yame General Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
⁵ Department of Internal Medicine, Okayama Saiseikai Genaral Hospital, Okayama, Japan.
⁶ Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan.
⁷ Department of Surgery, Machida Municipal Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
⁸ Department of Healthcare and Regulatory Sciences, Division of Community Healthcare and Pharmacy, Showa University School of Pharmacy, Tokyo, Japan.
⁹ Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, International University of Health and Welfare, Tochigi, Japan.
¹⁰ Department of Surgery, The Jikei University of Medicine Daisan Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
¹¹ Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Showa University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
¹² Everyone's Health Salon Sea Calm, Ishikawa, Japan.
¹³ Department of Surgery and Palliative Medicine, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan.

PMID: 30179861
DOI: 10.1159/000492674

Abstract

Background/aims: The current study was undertaken to assess if the semi-solid formulas could be used with a new ENFit connector with similar force to current percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes.

Methods: Experiment 1: We measured the applied pressure (force) needed to compress the syringe containing 7 viscous semi-solid formulas with a 20 Fr PEG tube and low-profile tube through the ENFit connector or the current connector. Experiment 2: This experiment was conducted to evaluate the compression force through 2 connectors in 3 infusion velocity, 7 PEG tube types with 2 semi-solid formulas.

Results: Experiment 1: The force needed to compress the syringe through the ENFit connector was higher in 3 semi-solid formulas with a 20 Fr low-profile tube; otherwise, there were no significant differences. Experiment 2: Each formula required a higher force in the ENFit connector in 6 settings out of 21.

Conclusions: The ENFit connector will likely not show any remarkable change in the force to administer the semi-solid formula. However, a higher force was required under some conditions in the prototype ENFit connector. Further investigation of sensory test is needed to confirm the feasibility of the ENFit connector for using the semi-solid formulas.

Keywords: ENFit; Enteral connector; Enteral nutrition; Semi-solid formula; Viscosity.

MeSH terms

Enteral Nutrition / instrumentation*
Enteral Nutrition / standards*
Feasibility Studies*
Food, Formulated* / analysis
Humans
Pressure
Viscosity