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The Hidden Burden of Community Enteral Feeding on the Emergency Department
Diane Barrett1, Vincent Li1, Sue Merrick1
1Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, The Royal Wolverhampton National Health Service Trust, Wolverhampton, UK.
Insights
Late enteral feeding tube complications, like dislodged or blocked tubes, create a significant healthcare burden. Improving caregiver education may reduce emergency department visits and associated costs.
Area of Science:
- Medical Science
- Gastroenterology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Enteral feeding tubes are crucial for nutrition but can lead to serious complications.
- Limited data exist on late-onset complications and their impact on healthcare services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the frequency and nature of late enteral tube complications presenting to an emergency department.
- To assess the healthcare burden associated with these complications.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational study of emergency department attendances.
- Data collected over 24 months in a UK hospital.
Main Results:
- 139 attendances for enteral tube complications were recorded.
- Dislodged and blocked tubes were the most common issues, leading to admissions in 35% of cases.
- Average healthcare cost per attendance was $1071.
Conclusions:
- Enteral tube complications impose a substantial, often hidden, burden on patients and healthcare systems.
- Enhanced patient and caregiver education may mitigate emergency department strain and costs.
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.
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