Use of size 4fr nasal gastric feeding tubes on the neonatal unit

The aim of this report is to show how to deliver the safest care to our babies on the neonatal unit by considering introducing the use of size 4fr enteral feeding tubes. Enteral feeding is a major part of neonatal care at St Peter’s Hospital. This report will show how literature supports use of enteral feeding as the preferred method to provide nutrition for preterm babies. Enteral feeding provides both nutritional and non-nutritional benefits, such as helping to develop brain growth, promoting maturity of the gut and reducing inflammation.¹

Kirstie Flucker
Clinical Practice Educator, Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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Keywords

nasal gastric tube (NGT); feeding; mother’s expressed breast milk (MEBM); nasojejunal

Key points

Increasing numbers of neonatal services support the use of smaller bore enteral feeding tubes in neonates weighing less that 1kg.
Some units now support the use of smaller bore enteral feeding tubes in babies under 2kg who require respiratory support.
Slower administration of feeds increases digestion of enteral feeds.
Smaller bore enteral feeding tubes reduce the risk of vagal stimulation to low birthweight babies.

Also published in Infant:

VOLUME 16/ISSUE 2, MARCH 2020

A neonatal short-term home nasogastric tube feeding programme

Every neonatal unit will be familiar with a cohort of mid to late preterm babies who are otherwise well but spend the last few weeks of their admission establishing sucking feeds. These babies can spend several days to weeks weaning off nasogastric tube (NGT) feeds after they have been deemed medically ready for discharge. A solution to help speed up discharge for these babies is a short-term home NGT feeding programme. This article looks at the experiences and outcomes over the first five years of setting up a short-term home NGT programme on the neonatal unit at John Radcliffe Hospital.