The learning curve in blind bedside postpyloric placement of spiral tubes: data from a multicentre, prospective observational study

Abstract

Objective This study sought to quantify the learning curve for the blind bedside postpyloric placement of a spiral tube in critically ill patients. Methods We retrospectively analysed 127 consecutive experiences of three intensivists who performed comparable procedures of blind bedside postpyloric placement of a spiral tube subsequent to failed self-propelled transpyloric migration in a multicentre study. Each intensivist’s cases were divided chronologically into two groups for analysis. The assessment of the learning curve was based on efficiency and safety outcomes. Results All intensivists achieved postpyloric placement for over 80% of their patients. The junior intensivist showed major improvement in both efficiency and safety outcomes, and the learning curve for both outcomes was approximately 20 cases. The junior intensivist showed a significant increase in the success rate of proximal jejunum placement and demonstrated a substantial decrease in the major adverse tube-associated events rate. The time to insertion significantly decreased in each intensivist as case experience accumulated. Conclusions Blind bedside postpyloric placement of a spiral tube involves a significant learning curve, indicating that this technique could be readily acquired by intensivists with no previous experience using an adequate professional training programme.