Repurposing medical devices as “button” esophagostomy tubes for extended nutritional support

Abstract Background Esophagostomy tubes (E‐tubes) are widely utilized for extended nutritional support in dogs and cats. Problems associated with their use include the unwieldy excess (10‐20 cm) of external tubing, constant need for neck wraps and necessity for skin sutures, suture tract infection,...

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Main Author: Melanie D. Craven
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16313
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author Melanie D. Craven
author_facet Melanie D. Craven
author_sort Melanie D. Craven
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Esophagostomy tubes (E‐tubes) are widely utilized for extended nutritional support in dogs and cats. Problems associated with their use include the unwieldy excess (10‐20 cm) of external tubing, constant need for neck wraps and necessity for skin sutures, suture tract infection, and tube loss if sutures fail. Objectives To evaluate 2 different, low profile (LP) “button” products intended for use in people as enteral (jejunostomy [J] and gastrojejunostomy [G‐J]) feeding tubes for suitability as LP E‐tubes in dogs and cats. Animals A young giant breed dog that required extended (>6 months) nutritional and fluid support during recovery from severe neurological illness with protracted adipsia, anorexia, and dysphagia. Methods Prospective evaluation of 2 commercially available LP feeding devices after placement of a standard E‐tube. An LP J‐tube and an LP G‐J tube were assessed in consecutive 4‐week trials, for tube retention, patient comfort, stoma health, and functionality. Results Both products performed extremely and equally well as LP E‐tubes in this clinical patient, enhancing patient freedom and comfort by eliminating external tubing, skin sutures, and bandaging. The dual port G‐J tube allows medication delivery (eg, sucralfate) to the entire esophagus, but for safety alone (ie, to avoid aspiration), the single port J‐tube appears the best device for client‐owned patients. Conclusions and Clinical Importance The LP enteral feeding tubes from the human medical field can be successfully used as LP E‐tubes in dogs and cats, offering superior patient comfort, with no obvious detriment to the patient and main drawback of higher cost.
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spelling doaj.art-709a8b52bcae428b9db74ce55e6e4c812022-12-22T04:10:14ZengWileyJournal of Veterinary Internal Medicine0891-66401939-16762022-01-0136119620310.1111/jvim.16313Repurposing medical devices as “button” esophagostomy tubes for extended nutritional supportMelanie D. Craven0Western College of Veterinary Medicine 52 Campus Dr. Saskatoon Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 CanadaAbstract Background Esophagostomy tubes (E‐tubes) are widely utilized for extended nutritional support in dogs and cats. Problems associated with their use include the unwieldy excess (10‐20 cm) of external tubing, constant need for neck wraps and necessity for skin sutures, suture tract infection, and tube loss if sutures fail. Objectives To evaluate 2 different, low profile (LP) “button” products intended for use in people as enteral (jejunostomy [J] and gastrojejunostomy [G‐J]) feeding tubes for suitability as LP E‐tubes in dogs and cats. Animals A young giant breed dog that required extended (>6 months) nutritional and fluid support during recovery from severe neurological illness with protracted adipsia, anorexia, and dysphagia. Methods Prospective evaluation of 2 commercially available LP feeding devices after placement of a standard E‐tube. An LP J‐tube and an LP G‐J tube were assessed in consecutive 4‐week trials, for tube retention, patient comfort, stoma health, and functionality. Results Both products performed extremely and equally well as LP E‐tubes in this clinical patient, enhancing patient freedom and comfort by eliminating external tubing, skin sutures, and bandaging. The dual port G‐J tube allows medication delivery (eg, sucralfate) to the entire esophagus, but for safety alone (ie, to avoid aspiration), the single port J‐tube appears the best device for client‐owned patients. Conclusions and Clinical Importance The LP enteral feeding tubes from the human medical field can be successfully used as LP E‐tubes in dogs and cats, offering superior patient comfort, with no obvious detriment to the patient and main drawback of higher cost.https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16313buttonesophagostomyE‐tubefeeding tubelow profile
spellingShingle Melanie D. Craven
Repurposing medical devices as “button” esophagostomy tubes for extended nutritional support
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
button
esophagostomy
E‐tube
feeding tube
low profile
title Repurposing medical devices as “button” esophagostomy tubes for extended nutritional support
title_full Repurposing medical devices as “button” esophagostomy tubes for extended nutritional support
title_fullStr Repurposing medical devices as “button” esophagostomy tubes for extended nutritional support
title_full_unstemmed Repurposing medical devices as “button” esophagostomy tubes for extended nutritional support
title_short Repurposing medical devices as “button” esophagostomy tubes for extended nutritional support
title_sort repurposing medical devices as button esophagostomy tubes for extended nutritional support
topic button
esophagostomy
E‐tube
feeding tube
low profile
url https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16313
work_keys_str_mv AT melaniedcraven repurposingmedicaldevicesasbuttonesophagostomytubesforextendednutritionalsupport