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Monitoring of home safety issues in children on enteral feeds with inherited metabolic disorders

S Evans1, F Shelton, C Holden

  • 1Dietetic Department, Birmingham Children's Hospital, UK. evanss21@onetel.com

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|April 28, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Carer technique for home enteral tube feeding children with inherited metabolic disorders (IMD) showed significant safety gaps, particularly in hygiene and equipment knowledge. Regular training updates are recommended to improve safety and reduce risks for these children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Metabolic Disorders
  • Home Healthcare

Background:

  • Home enteral tube feeding is crucial for children with inherited metabolic disorders (IMD).
  • Assessing carer technique is vital for ensuring safe and effective feeding practices at home.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety of carer techniques in home enteral tube feeding for children with IMD.
  • Identify common deficiencies in carer practices related to enteral feeding.

Main Methods:

  • A study involved 40 children with IMD requiring pump tube feeding.
  • Dietitians and nurses assessed carer hygiene, feed preparation, tube care, and equipment use via questionnaires and practical home visits.

Main Results:

  • Significant issues included poor hygiene (78% unclean surfaces, 25% no hand washing) and inadequate knowledge (80% on clearing blockages, 50% on pump priming).
  • Other concerns were inaccurate measurements (40%), improper tube flushing (50%), incorrect child positioning for night feeds (63%), and untrained secondary carers (43%).

Conclusions:

  • Home enteral tube feeding for children with IMD requires ongoing carer education.
  • Regular updates on knowledge and techniques are necessary to mitigate risks associated with feeding practices.
Abstract

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