Long-term enteral nutrition with a nasogastric tube can be safe and effective: A case report

Home enteral nutrition (HEN) is a vital feeding practice for those who have chronic disorders that prevent them from eating normally. Although short-term feeding is predominantly done via nasogastric (NG) tubes and long-term feeding is done via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube, we present a case that demonstrates that the long-term use of NG tubes may be possible. Our case involves an adult woman who has been fed via an NG tube for >3 years with no complications. She has had three replacement tubes inserted over these 3 years and has not required any healthcare visits related to tube dysfunction or complications. She continues to do well. A literature search determined that there are no reports of long-term use (greater than a year) of NG feeding tubes in outpatient adults, and thus the true rate of complications related to NG tubes is unknown. We review the reported complications associated with long-term PEG tubes. Although PEGs are typically regarded as safer in long-term feeding situations, this case demonstrates that NG tubes could prove effective under certain circumstances in which the insertion of a PEG may not be possible.