The feasibility of electromagnetic sensing aided post pyloric feeding tube placement (CORTRAK) in patients with thrombocytopenia with or without anticoagulation on the intensive care unit

• Published in: JPEN. Journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition 2022-07, Vol.46 (5), p.1183-1190
• Main Authors: Stecher, Stephanie Susanne, Barnikel, Michaela, Drolle, Heidrun, Pawlikowski, Alexandra, Tischer, Johanna, Weiglein, Tobias, Alig, Annabel, Anton, Sofia, Stemmler, Hans Joachim, Fraccaroli, Alessia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: anticoagulation; cancer patients; CEAS; enteral nutrition; feeding tube; thrombocytopenia
• ISSN: 0148-6071; 1941-2444
• DOI: 10.1002/jpen.2271

Background The successful initiation of enteral nutrition is frequently hampered by various complications occurring in patients treated in the intensive care unit (ICU). Successful placement of a nasojejunal tube by CORTRAK enteral access system (CEAS) has been reported to be a simple bedside tool for placing the postpyloric (PP) feeding tube. Methods We evaluated the efficacy and side effects using CEAS to establish EN in patients with critical illness, thrombocytopenia, and/or anticoagulation. Results Fifty‐six mechanically ventilated patients were analyzed. Twenty‐four of them underwent prior hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Sixteen patients received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment because of acute respiratory distress syndrome. The median platelet count at PP placement was 26 g/L (range, 4–106 g/L); 16 patients received therapeutic anticoagulation (activated partial thromboplastin time, 50–70 s). CEAS‐assisted placement of a PP nasojejunal tube was performed successfully in all patients. The most frequent adverse event was epistaxis in 27 patients (48.2%), which was mostly mild (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade 1, n = 21 [77.8%], and grade 2, n = 6). A significant association between a low platelet count and bleeding complications was observed (P