Feeding Tube Attachment Device Versus Conventional Fixation and Its Impact on Accidental Exit of Enteral Feeding Tubes

Enteral nutritional therapy, fed through the gastrointestinal tract via a catheter, tube, catheter, or stoma, delivers the nutrients distally to the oral cavity and may reduce intrahospital malnutrition. Enteral probes are inserted, at the bedside, through the nose or mouth into the stomach or duodenum. Among the main complications of the use enteral probes, we can mention: displacement of the probe and administration of diet in the respiratory tract or microaspirations. To prevent displacement, enteral probes are attached to the skin on the nose or forehead by the use of micropore-type adhesive. In the probe the adhesive tape is put in the form of "tie" and again fixed to the nose of the patient. The enteral probes displacement rates with this technique are around 62%; in addition, the adhesive tape can cause discomfort, nasal necrosis, skin lesions and skin sensitivity reactions to the patient. More recently the nasal bridle, an anchor of the enteral feeding tube located around the nasal septum or nasal septum, has been described as more effective in securing enteral probes position over traditional tape attachment, but is not available in our environment. In Brazil, the feeding tube attachment device (FTAD) is available. Until now, the performance of FTAD in relation to enteral probe safety and accidental exit rates has not been described in the literature. Material's FTAD is composed of a layer of hydrocolloid that is adhered to the skin on the back of the nose and a polyurethane clamp that secures the enteral probe. Thus, there was a need to evaluate the actual success in using the traditional mode of probe attachment. It should be noted that very little scientific evidence is available in the literature on such care, and this is due to the lack of well-designed studies on the subject.