Pancreatin in the declogging of obstructed enteral feeding tubes.

Enteral tube occlusion with inspissated enteral feeding material can be a problem in patients maintained on enteral feeding. The objective of this study was to determine the ability of pancreatin solution to declog obstructed enteral feeding tubes. Forty French 14 enteral feeding tubes were divided into two groups after obstructing the distal end with a previously prepared viscid enteral feeding fluid (Alitraq). The experimental group was instilled with pancreatin (Creon) while the control group with saline solution. The two groups were observed for dissolution of the obstruction every hour for six hours. The remaining unclogged tubes were then subjected to increasing pressure until they were declogged. After six hours, 14 tubes (70%) in the pancreatin group six tubes (30%) in the saline group were declogged. The mean pressure needed to declog the remaining clogged tubes were 235.38 mm HG and 205 mm Hg for the saline and pancreatin groups, respectively. Statistical analysis of the results using chi-square test revealed that pancreatin was more effective than saline solution in declogging the enteral feeding tubes obstructed by inspissated feeding fluid; however, the t-test showed no significant difference between the mean pressures needed to declog the remaining clogged tubes.(Author)