Background: Enteral feeding tubes are associated with their most serious complications in the days and weeks after insertion, but there are limited published data in the literature on late complications and the implications for the healthcare service.
Methods: This is a retrospective observational study of attendances to a UK hospital emergency department (ED), with enteral tube complications as the primary reason for attendance.
Results: Over 24 months, 139 attendances were recorded. Dislodged tubes and blocked tubes accounted for the majority of complications and subsequent admissions, with a mixture of enteral tube types being associated with both. Thirty-five percent of patients were admitted, and the average healthcare cost per attendance was $1071.
Conclusion: Enteral tube complications can place a hidden burden on the patient, the ED, and healthcare costs. More work on education and supporting caregivers to resolve problems themselves could reduce the burden on busy EDs.
Keywords: blocked tube; costs; dislodge; enteral tube; gastrostomy; late complications.
© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.