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Dangers in Overnight Tube Feeding

Doctors may prescribe overnight tube feeding, either at home or in a hospital situation, for a number of different types of patients. Adults who have suffered a stroke, have cancer or are suffering from another disease that can restrict their appetite may need supplemental feeding to prevent malnutrition. Children with metabolic disorders often need supplemental night feeding. Older patients suffering from dementia may require feeding at night, due to decreased interest in food and ability to eat. Nighttime tube feeding is generally safe, but does carry some risks. Knowing about them can help patients and their family members make the right medical decisions.

  1. Hypoglycemia

    • According to Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics, tube feeding sessions which are interrupted by a blockage or other problem may lead to hypoglycemia, especially in patients who are being fed supplementally to maintain their blood sugar. Hypoglycemia can cause sweating, shakiness, nausea, difficulty concentrating, lethargy and trouble speaking. Some supplemental feeding devices include alarms to indicate that a problem has occurred. This can help reduce the chances of hypoglycemia caused by an interrupted feeding.

    Aspiration

    • Patients being tube-fed at night also face the danger of aspirating the liquid. If the feeding recipient regurgitates the supplemental liquid, they may not successfully swallow it again. Liquid in the bronchial tubes or lungs may cause breathing problems, choking and even death. Because of this danger, patients tube-fed at home should be located in a place where caregivers can detect problems quickly, such as the same bedroom.

    Reduced Lifespan

    • According to the British Medical Journal, tube feeding patients suffering from advanced dementia rarely extends their lives, and may actually shorten the lifespan of some patients. The presence of the tube can increase patient stress, especially when restraints are used to keep the patient from removing it. Higher stress levels can cause a patient's condition to worsen. The British Medical Journal stresses that elderly patients often have very low energy requirements, and that overnight tube feeding should be avoided unless the patient is actively starving.

    Safety Problems

    • Operator error can make tube feeding more dangerous than it would be under normal circumstances. According to the Archives of Disease in Childhood, patients being tube-fed in the home may be at higher risk of infection from poor hygiene, clogs due to inadequate tube flushing and inappropriate positioning, which may cause regurgitation or interrupted feeding. While tube-feeding by trained personnel also carries these risks, they are higher when the caretaker is not a professional.

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