Role of home-blended tube feedings in pediatric patients with gastrostomy tubes: A retrospective study.

Background: Both blended tube feed (BTF) and commercial tube feed (CTF) can be administered through a gastrostomy tube (GT). There is very little evidence about using home BTF (HBTF). Nevertheless, families increasingly request this type of nutrition because they attribute some benefits to it. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of using HBTF via GT as an alternative to CTF.

Methods: Single-center, retrospective, and observational study of patients under 18 years old who underwent GT between 2014 and 2020. We reviewed demographics, anthropometrics, clinical characteristics, and types of diet and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms over 12 months after the placement of the GT.

Results: Forty patients (40% boys) were included. The median age at GT placement was 15 months (interquartile range 5-57.5). The most common underlying diagnosis was a neurological disorder (45%). In 75% of patients, Nissen fundoplication was performed. At the 12-month follow-up, 18 patients (45%) were receiving 100% HBTF, 14 (35%) were receiving a mixed diet (HBTF + CTF), four (10%) were receiving 100% CTF, and four (10%) were no longer using the GT. Those with a 100% HBTF diet showed a statistically significant higher weight at the 12-month follow-up than those who had received any percentage of CTF. No other statistically significant differences in anthropometric indices or GI symptoms were found between the two groups. Only three cases of mechanical complications were reported.

Conclusion: In our experience, using HBTF via the GT provides an alternative to CTF in pediatric patients who require enteral nutrition.