A natural history of temporary tube feeding care at a children’s hospital: A prospective audit of medical records

Abstract

This chart audit characterized the natural history of temporary tube feeding use at a children’s hospital between 1 November 2018 and 30 November 2019. Data were collected from the decision-making phase until tube removal or 4 months post-tube insertion. Children’s tube feeding journeys were described, and associations determined between patient and service-related variables and outcomes of tube feeding duration and being discharged with a feeding tube. Four hundred and 94 patients were followed with a median age of 1.0 years (IQR 3.6). Many had respiratory illnesses ( n = 213, 43%) and received feeding tubes for inadequate oral intake related to acute illness ( n = 279, 57%). Seventy-one new feeding tubes were inserted per month (SD 27.63). Fifty-nine per cent of patients ( n = 290) received allied health consults. Although 40% of patients ( n = 199) experienced complications, most patients ( n = 460, 93%) ceased tube feeding within 4 months. Outcomes were associated with age, medical condition, reflux, primary reason for tube feeding, allied health consult, complication type, tube weaning plans and referral for longer-term feeding devices. Results highlighted a critical need for risk identification from the decision-making stage and standardization of practices during all phases of temporary tube feeding care.