Healthcare professionals, neonatal units, hospitals, and health services
Statement of standard
Inserting and managing feeding tubes in infants is performed by a trained person and adjusted to infant’s needs and comfort.
Rationale
Tube feeding either via a nasogastric or orogastric tube is vital for nourishment until the infant can take full feeds by breast or bottle. Feeding tubes are also used for decompression of air and administration of medication. The way in which the feeding tube is inserted and tube feed is given makes a difference to the infant’s food tolerance and comfort. Hypersensitive responses to oral stimulation and sensory defensive responses are two examples preterm infants can develop during tube feeding. (1)
Prolonged use of tube feeding is associated with reflux and difficulty making the transition to full sucking feeds (1), or later to taking solids. The presence of the tube may irritate the infant and stimulate the gag reflex. In the long term, tube fed infants may become used to this irritant, which can impair sensitivity and interfere with sucking and swallowing when oral feeding is introduced. Furthermore, healthcare professionals must be aware of the potential risks due to phthalate exposure in the neonatal unit. Therefore, materials should be identified and alternative devices should be considered. (2)
There is a small risk that the enteral feeding tube can be misplaced into the lungs or ethmoid during insertion, or move out of the stomach at a later stage. Misplacement can be recognised at an early stage, e.g. before the tube is used. There are several methods to check the placement of nasogastric feeding tubes. (3,4)
Benefits
Short-term benefits
Reduced risk of complications due to inserting feeding tubes (4)
Reduced pain and discomfort during insertion of the tube (5) (see Care procedures)
Reduced stress for parents (6)
Long-term benefits
Reduced problems with transition to oral feeding (1,7)
Improved sensory development (1)
Components of the standard
Component
Grading of evidence
Indicator of meeting the standard
For parents and family
Parents are informed by healthcare professionals about the possibility of tube feeding. (8)
Different tube sizes and tubes of safe material are available, so the size of the tube can be chosen on an individualised basis. (2)
A (High quality)
Audit report2
Different fixation material matching with the individual infant are available. (15)
B (Moderate quality)
Audit report2
For health service
A national guideline on tube insertion, including material safety is available and regularly updated. (16)
B (High quality)
Guideline
1The indicator “patient information sheet” is an example for written, detailed information, in which digital solutions are included, such as web-based systems, apps, brochures, information leaflets, and booklets.
2The indicator “audit report” can also be defined as a benchmarking report.
Where to go
Further development
Grading of evidence
For parents and family
N/A
For healthcare professionals
N/A
For neonatal unit
N/A
For hospital
N/A
For health service
Facilitate research on phatalates in tubes use in vulnerable infants.
A (Low quality)
Getting started
Initial steps
For parents and family
Parents are verbally informed by healthcare professionals about tube insertion and management.
For healthcare professionals
Attend training on managing and maintaining feeding tubes.
For neonatal unit
Develop and implement a unit guideline on managing and maintaining feeding tubes.
Develop information material on tube insertion and management for parents.
For hospital
Support healthcare professionals to participate in training on managing and maintaining feeding tubes.
For health service
Develop and implement a national guideline on tube insertion, including material safety.
Inserting nasogastric and orogastric tubes: step by step: (17)
ACTION
EXPLANATION
Explain procedure and infant’s possible reaction.
Invite parents to support baby e.g. holding, sucking, grasping.
Strengthens parents role in comforting and protecting their infant.
PREPARATION
Select an appropriate tube.
Make sure that you have everything ready at the cot side e.g. tube, materials for fixing, dummy, bedding support, person to assist if available.
So you can give the infant your full attention and don’t leave the infant.
Remove old fixings with oil or water.
INSERTING
Consider most comfortable position for the infant and for caregiver to insert smoothly. Side lying is likely to be preferred by the infant if this is compatible with other treatments. Make the infant comfortable and secure e.g. wrapping, arms tucked in, legs folded, surface for foot bracing. Consider possibility of the infant being supported on mother lap/in her arms.
The choice of position and positioning supports make a difference to the infant’s ability to be still and calm. This is often easiest on the side and most difficult on the back. The calmer the infant the easier it is to insert the tube.
If the infant does not have an ET tube offer a dummy to encourage sucking before inserting tube.
Sucking will help the infant to swallow tube.
Pace sliding the tube down to maintain minimum levels of arousal.
Fix tube securely with skin friendly material. Use smallest possible pieces and place to avoid interference with eyelids and mouth.
Minimise risk of damage to skin. To avoid irritation and disorganised behaviour.
AFTER
Provide comfort. Stay with the infant until settled.
Ensure rapid return to stability. Infants physiological reactions may be delayed.
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November 2018 / 1st edition / next revision: 2023
Recommended citation
EFCNI, Oude-Reimer M, Frauenfelder O et al., European Standards of Care for Newborn Health: Inserting and managing feeding tubes. 2018.
