Impact of Long-Term Enteral Feeding Tubes on Aspiration Pneumonia in a Tertiary Care Centre in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

It is a retrospective Chart Study. The objectives of the study are (1) to determine the incidence of Aspiration Pneumonia (AP) before and after long term feeding tubes insertion in four types of feeding tubes: percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), percutaneous fluoroscopy gastrostomy (PFG), jejunostomy feeding tube (JFT) and nasogastric tube (NGT) ,(2) to find out associations between the incidence of AP in patient who have feeding tubes and age , gender, rate of feeding (continuous or boluses) ,type of formula of used feeding ,use of thickener during oral feeding , persons deliver feedings and family training how to feed patients. (3) Factors that influenced patients’ outcomes. The findings of the study are: (1) No difference in incidence of AP before and after tube insertion. Feeding tubes have limited medical benefits for AP prevention. (2)Rate of feeding either continuous or bolus increase the frequency of AP. (3)No associations between the incidence of AP and age, gender, type of formula, use of thickener during oral feeding, person deliver feedings and family training about method of feeding. (4) Old age is a poor prognostic factor and HHC follow up is a good prognostic factor for outcome. (5) AP increases a patient's hospital readmission and length of stay in the hospital. There is an urgent need to have alternative strategies to reduce the cost.