Tube Feeding

Enteral access devices (EADs) provide necessary hydration, nutrition, and medications to numerous patients in hospitals across the United States. When patient's EAD becomes clogged it can delay administration of important nutrition and medications which can cause adverse effects such as malnutrition, and dehydration, especially in pediatric patients. Traditional methods of unclogging EADs can require the use of special enzymes or chemicals but these produce a variable rate of success. The TubeClear system has been developed to help alleviate the need for use of special enzymes or chemicals and to provide a quick, safe alternative for those with a clogged or sluggish EAD all while at the patient's bedside. This system prevents the need for subsequent exposure to radiation and contrast media for confirmation of EAD location after replacement.

This is a single-center prospective study evaluating the efficacy of a prototype gastrostomy anchor dressing for use with button gastrostomy tubes. The anchor dressing has been previously evaluated for usability by parents, patients, and nurses. This study compares several outcomes related to complications from gastrostomy tube placement using a prospective cohort of patients and a retrospective analysis of complications associated with gastrostomy tubes. Prospective patients will initially be monitored until they have completed their last dressing change or for a maximum of 50 days. They will then complete their final survey. Their charts will be reviewed for up to one year from their initial gastrostomy placement. The study's primary objective is to determine if the novel gastrostomy tube anchor dressing reduces rates of gastrostomy tube dislodgement and ED/clinic visits for gastrostomy tube complications.