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. 2023 Jul;47(5):654-661.
doi: 10.1002/jpen.2513. Epub 2023 May 31.

Effect of blenderized tube feeds on gastric emptying: A retrospective cohort study

Bridget Hron  1 , Thomas Ng  2   3 , Stephan Voss  3   4 , Rachel Rosen  1
Affiliations

Effect of blenderized tube feeds on gastric emptying: A retrospective cohort study

Bridget Hron et al. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2023 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Blenderized tube feeds (blends) are associated with lower hospital admissions and reduced gastroesophageal symptoms, but their high viscosity may theoretically prolong gastric emptying. Our objective was to compare differences in gastric emptying with blends vs with formula.

Methods: We retrospectively identified individuals 6 months to 20 years with enteral tubes who underwent 1-h liquid gastric emptying scintigraphy from 1998 to 2020 at Boston Children's Hospital. Examinations were excluded if a postpyloric tube was present, tracer was administered orally or with diet differing from habitual, habitual diet was indeterminable, imaging was terminated early, or >50% of input counts emptied during bolus administration. Emptying was classified as delayed if gastric residual at 1 h was ≥60% of ingested dose.

Results: Eighteen examinations (15 individuals) were performed with blends and 35 examinations (32 individuals) with formula. Although percentage of residual at 1 h was significantly higher in patients receiving blends compared with formula (54 ± 17 vs 40 ± 25, P = 0.04), the number of patients with delayed gastric emptying did not differ (39% vs 29%, respectively, P = 0.54). Type of diet, feed volume or concurrent medications did not predict delayed gastric emptying. Children with blends received higher bolus volumes (106 ± 55 vs 66 ± 59 ml; P = 0.02), and this significantly predicted percentage of residual (β = 0.14; P = 0.01).

Conclusion: The proportion of patients with delayed gastric emptying was similar in children receiving blends and formula. Although the mean percentage of gastric residual was higher with blends, this may be explained by higher bolus volumes administered. This preliminary work suggests that blends compare favorably to formula.

Keywords: enteral formulas; enteral nutrition; gastroenterology; nutrition; research and diseases.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: Dr. Rosen is a consultant for Innovative Health Solution and Reckitt Benckiser. Drs. Hron, Ng and Voss have nothing to disclose.

Figures

Figure:
Figure:. Histogram of Gastric Emptying by Diet Type
Histogram of % gastric residual at 1 hour by gastric emptying scintigraphy, stratified by diet type (blenderized tube feeds in dark gray, formula in light gray).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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