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Long-term Outcomes of an Interdisciplinary Tube Weaning Program: A Quantitative Study
Sabine Marinschek1, Karoline Pahsini, Peter Jaron Scheer
1Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Insights
Most children successfully transition to oral feeding after tube weaning programs, maintaining growth and nutrition long-term. This study confirms the effectiveness of the Graz model of tube weaning for sustained oral intake in formerly tube-dependent children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Nutritional Science
- Child Health Outcomes
Background:
- Tube dependency in children necessitates specialized interventions for oral feeding transition.
- Limited data exists on the long-term outcomes of pediatric tube weaning programs.
- The Graz model of tube weaning is a recognized intervention for children with feeding difficulties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term effects of tube weaning programs on oral feeding, growth, and nutritional status in formerly tube-dependent children.
- To analyze outcomes 1 to 6 years post-intervention for children treated with the Graz model of tube weaning.
- To assess the sustainability of oral feeding and nutritional adequacy after successful tube weaning.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of long-term data (1-6 years post-program) was conducted.
- Parental questionnaires collected information on growth and nutrition for 564 children completing the Graz model of tube weaning program (2009-2014).
- Statistical analysis of questionnaire data was performed using SPSS V22.0.
Main Results:
- A high success rate was observed, with 92.3% of children exclusively orally fed 1-6 years after the program.
- No significant changes in body mass index (BMI) z-scores were detected between program completion and long-term follow-up.
- Among fully orally fed children, 68% consumed age-appropriate diets, while others required specialized or modified diets.
Conclusions:
- The Graz model of tube weaning facilitates sustained oral feeding in most children.
- Long-term follow-up indicates no growth deterioration in children successfully weaned from tubes.
- The study supports the efficacy of the Graz model for achieving lasting oral feeding independence in pediatric patients.
Background And Objectives:
Children who become tube-dependent need specialized treatment in order to make the transition to oral feeding. Little is known about long-term effects of tube weaning programs. This study analyzes long-term effects (outcome, growth, and nutrition data) in a large sample of formerly tube-dependent children 1 to 6 years after participation in tube weaning programs, based on the "Graz model of tube weaning."
Methods:
Parents of children who completed a tube weaning program between 2009 and 2014 (N = 564) were asked to complete a questionnaire on their child's growth and nutrition. Data was analyzed using SPSS V22.0 for Windows (SPSS, Chicago, IL).
Results:
Response rate was 47.16% (N = 266). Seven children had died between completion of the program and the long-term follow-up. Two hundred and thirty-nine children (92.3%) were still exclusively orally fed 1 to 6 years after completion of the weaning program, 17 children (6.6%) were partially tube-fed. Three children were completely tube-fed (1.1%). Growth data showed no significant changes in zBMI (World Health Organization standards z values for body mass index) between completion of weaning and long-term follow-up. Provided data on nutrition of fully orally fed patients showed that most children (N = 162, 68%) were eating an age-appropriate diet, whereas a small percentage (N = 10, 4%) were fed with a high-caloric formula, a selective diet (N = 12, 5%), or a liquid/pureed diet (N = 55, 23%).
Conclusions:
Many children who undergo a tube weaning program based on the "Graz model of tube weaning" are able to stay on full oral feeds in the years after completion of the wean without deterioration of growth.
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