When to Stop a Continuous Tube Feeding?

Continuous tube feeding is a method of feeding an individual with a tube placed in the nose or directly into the stomach. People on continuous tube feeding may live comfortably for months, years or even decades. However, there are instances when tube feeding should be stopped.

Is It Helping?

• Look at how much good the tube feeding is doing. If the person has a medical condition that is terminal and which is causing him to lose weight anyway, and if he is in severe pain, then a continuous feeding tube really may be postponing the inevitable (death). This may be a case when the patient and the patient's friends and family need to discuss the removal of the tube so that the patient does not suffer needlessly. If the tube is maintaining a person's health and recovery prognosis is very good, however, then the tube probably should be kept in place.

Desires

• There are many cases where doctors are not completely sure if a person on a continuous feeding tube will recover. In these cases, examine the wishes of the patient and the patient's family and friends. For instance, if a person is in a coma, he may have a living will that specifies that he does not want life support such as a feeding tube continued for over a certain period of time, or the will may state that he absolutely does want the tube.

Recovery

• Continuous feeding sometimes is used because of medical conditions from which a person may recover, such as temporary paralysis of the throat muscles or an eating disorder. If it is clear that the person may once again eat on her own and her weight is at least stable, then continuous tube feeding no longer is necessary. When this occurs is different for each person, but doctors generally are able to provide an estimated recovery time based on their experience with the medical condition that requires the tube feeding.

Complications

• In some cases of tube feeding, patients may develop complications even when the feedings are helping with weight gain and sustaining life. For example, the patient may experience chronic infections at the stoma, or he may face problems like dumping syndrome, gas, bloating, adverse reactions to the formula or combination of formula and medication, nausea or vomiting and regurgitation. Stop the feeding at least temporarily in these cases to stop the complications from worsening and to give treatments such as antibiotics if needed. Fluids and nutrients still can be delivered intravenously until another solution is found or until the complication resolves.