A team-based protocol and electromagnetic technology eliminate feeding tube placement complications

Area of Science:

• Medical Devices
• Patient Safety
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Feeding tube placement is common, with significant risks of serious complications.
• Existing solutions are often impractical or not cost-effective.
• Blind tube placement poses risks like airway misplacement and pneumothorax.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess if a team-based protocol with electromagnetic tracking reduces complications in high-risk patients.
• To evaluate the safety of blind feeding tube placement in alert, low-risk patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study comparing blind placement (2005) to a Tube Team protocol with electromagnetic tracking (2007).
• Outcome variables included airway placement, pneumothorax, death, and radiology resource use.
• Comparison also made to blind placement in alert, low-risk patients.

Main Results:

• The Tube Team protocol eliminated airway placement, pneumothorax, and mortality in high-risk patients, improving success rates.
• Radiology resource utilization, including X-rays and fluoroscopy, significantly decreased with the Tube Team.
• Blind placement in alert, low-risk patients still resulted in higher rates of airway placement and pneumothorax compared to the Tube Team.

Conclusions:

• A dedicated team using electromagnetic tracking for feeding tube placement effectively eliminates associated morbidity and mortality.
• Blind feeding tube placement is not a safe method, even for awake and alert patients.