Tube Selection Procedures

All the general documents outlined activities and processes relating to the tube placement phase with 69.23% identifying that children would need to have an assessment by a medical officer and/or dietitian prior to tube insertion. Mode of delivery of enteral feeding and route selection information was outlined in 61.54% of the documents. Tube selection procedures (including sizing) was mentioned in 76.92% of the documents and insertion procedures and how to check positioning was outlined in 84.62% of the policies and guidelines. Many of the documents then provided information on choosing administration routes of feeds (i.e., continuous, bolus) (61.54%) and on formula selection (84.62%). Only one document from an Australian hospital mentioned blenderized tube feeds but stressed that the health service did not support the use these …show more content…
Few (30.77%) of the policies and guidelines contained information on starting rates of feeds and goal rates but most (84.62%) contained information on common medically based complications and how to trouble shoot. The four most commonly reported problems in the documents included tube blocking (92.31%), dislodgment (53.85%), nausea and vomiting (53.85%) and skin care issues (38.46%). Procedures for home discharge planning and parent/caregiver education were described in 69.23% of the documents. Many (53.85%) of these policies, procedures and guidelines identified the practical training needed by parents before discharge (e.g., “organise training for the carers to administer enteral feeds safely via the nurses on the ward including pump, equipment and hang times”). A few (23.08%) specified that parent concerns regarding tube feeding should discussed with hospital staff before