Medication administration through feeding tube: practical profile in a tertiary teaching hospital

Abstract

To know  the  weaknesses  involved  the  prescribing,  dispensing  and  administration  of  drugs  through  feeding  tube  and  propose  and  develop  strategies  to  minimize  the  risks  related  to  this  activity.  The was  an  observational and descriptive study conducted in different stages: 1) analysis of oral solid drugs used within  the hospital; 2) evaluation of the prescription of drugs via tube and 3) interviews with pharmacy professionals  and  nursing  staff  to  identify  the  profile  of  the  practice  of  dispensing  and  administration  of  drugs  by  tube   feeding.  Were  identified  207  oral  solid  drugs,  of  which  71  cannot  be  by  this  route.  Among 590 evaluated  medical prescriptions, 117 containing at least one medicament to be administered in this way to 42 different patients. A total of 483 doses were required of 68 different drugs, and 78.16% were medicines in solid form. The interview with the pharmacy and nursing teams, demonstraded the lack of training, the constant doubts, and lack of reference materials for the safe and effective implementation of pharmacotherapy via tube. Based on  this  finding,  strategies  were  developed  and  suggested  to  improve  this  practice.  The  study  showed  that   there  are  many  doubts  and  weaknesses  in  relation  to  the  administration  of  drugs  via  catheter.  Recognizing  this,  measures  such  as  the  inclusion  of  the  analysis  of  prescriptions  by  pharmacists,  the  multidisciplinary  interaction and the development of materials to standardize procedures are necessary to promote the rational use of drugs to that route, ensuring the safety and efficacy of pharmacotherapy of patients.