Improving retention of pediatric feeding tubes with a nasal bridle: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Nasoenteric feeding tubes are necessary in hospitalized children to deliver nutrition and medication. Traditionally, adhesive tape secures these feeding tubes but fails to prevent 40% of tube dislodgements. The nasal bridle, a thin plastic anchor placed around the vomer bone, is...

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Main Authors: Megan Foster, Veronica Armijo-Garcia, Jonathan Gelfond, Andrew D. Meyer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Trials
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-025-08867-x
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author Megan Foster
Veronica Armijo-Garcia
Jonathan Gelfond
Andrew D. Meyer
author_facet Megan Foster
Veronica Armijo-Garcia
Jonathan Gelfond
Andrew D. Meyer
author_sort Megan Foster
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Nasoenteric feeding tubes are necessary in hospitalized children to deliver nutrition and medication. Traditionally, adhesive tape secures these feeding tubes but fails to prevent 40% of tube dislodgements. The nasal bridle, a thin plastic anchor placed around the vomer bone, is an increasingly used method for tube securement. Our objective is to compare AMT Bridle Pro® nasal bridle versus conventional tape to safely reduce tube dislodgement in pediatric patients. Methods A prospective, open-label randomized controlled trial was carried out between February 2020 and January 2021 at a tertiary pediatric hospital. Infants, children, and adolescents less than 18 years of age with an order to place a nasogastric or post-pyloric feeding tube were approached for enrollment. Exclusion criteria included facial trauma, nasal airway obstruction, or thrombocytopenia. After obtaining consent, patients were randomized to AMT Bridle Pro® nasal bridle or conventional tape to secure the feeding tube. The primary outcome was the frequency of feeding tube dislodgement, defined as unintentional tube removal or change in position. Secondary outcomes included days to feeding tube dislodgement, number of dislodgements per 10 tube days, resource use, and complications from tube securement. Results A total of 35 patients were randomized and equally split to the bridle (n = 17) and tape arm (n = 18). The primary analysis revealed the rate of feeding tube dislodgement over 30 days was significantly higher in the tape group compared to the bridle group with an attributable risk reduction of 57% (hazard ratio = 6.3, 95% CI 2.4–16.5, p < 0.001). After 30 days, tubes dislodged at a proportion 88% (15) in the tape arm compared to 31% (5) in the bridle arm (risk ratio = 2.82; 95% CI: 1.34–5.96; p = 0.001). There were no serious adverse events. Four patients in the tape group developed erythema and skin breakdown where the tube was secured with tape. One patient was withdrawn from the bridle group because they developed erythema on the nasal septum after placement, which resolved quickly upon removal of the bridle. Conclusion Securing nasoenteric feeding tubes with the AMT Bridle Pro® can effectively reduce tube dislodgements in hospitalized children. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04621734. Registered on November 3, 2020. https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?cond=NCT04621734 .
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spelling doaj-art-29547ee3fb384cf3a5dc095622bc75282025-08-20T01:51:41ZengBMCTrials1745-62152025-05-012611710.1186/s13063-025-08867-xImproving retention of pediatric feeding tubes with a nasal bridle: a randomized controlled trialMegan Foster0Veronica Armijo-Garcia1Jonathan Gelfond2Andrew D. Meyer3Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, Long School of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science CenterDivision of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, Long School of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science CenterDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Long School of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science CenterDivision of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, Long School of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science CenterAbstract Background Nasoenteric feeding tubes are necessary in hospitalized children to deliver nutrition and medication. Traditionally, adhesive tape secures these feeding tubes but fails to prevent 40% of tube dislodgements. The nasal bridle, a thin plastic anchor placed around the vomer bone, is an increasingly used method for tube securement. Our objective is to compare AMT Bridle Pro® nasal bridle versus conventional tape to safely reduce tube dislodgement in pediatric patients. Methods A prospective, open-label randomized controlled trial was carried out between February 2020 and January 2021 at a tertiary pediatric hospital. Infants, children, and adolescents less than 18 years of age with an order to place a nasogastric or post-pyloric feeding tube were approached for enrollment. Exclusion criteria included facial trauma, nasal airway obstruction, or thrombocytopenia. After obtaining consent, patients were randomized to AMT Bridle Pro® nasal bridle or conventional tape to secure the feeding tube. The primary outcome was the frequency of feeding tube dislodgement, defined as unintentional tube removal or change in position. Secondary outcomes included days to feeding tube dislodgement, number of dislodgements per 10 tube days, resource use, and complications from tube securement. Results A total of 35 patients were randomized and equally split to the bridle (n = 17) and tape arm (n = 18). The primary analysis revealed the rate of feeding tube dislodgement over 30 days was significantly higher in the tape group compared to the bridle group with an attributable risk reduction of 57% (hazard ratio = 6.3, 95% CI 2.4–16.5, p < 0.001). After 30 days, tubes dislodged at a proportion 88% (15) in the tape arm compared to 31% (5) in the bridle arm (risk ratio = 2.82; 95% CI: 1.34–5.96; p = 0.001). There were no serious adverse events. Four patients in the tape group developed erythema and skin breakdown where the tube was secured with tape. One patient was withdrawn from the bridle group because they developed erythema on the nasal septum after placement, which resolved quickly upon removal of the bridle. Conclusion Securing nasoenteric feeding tubes with the AMT Bridle Pro® can effectively reduce tube dislodgements in hospitalized children. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04621734. Registered on November 3, 2020. https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?cond=NCT04621734 .https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-025-08867-xFeeding tubeNasoenteral feeding tubeDislodgementNasal bridle
spellingShingle Megan Foster
Veronica Armijo-Garcia
Jonathan Gelfond
Andrew D. Meyer
Improving retention of pediatric feeding tubes with a nasal bridle: a randomized controlled trial
Trials
Feeding tube
Nasoenteral feeding tube
Dislodgement
Nasal bridle
title Improving retention of pediatric feeding tubes with a nasal bridle: a randomized controlled trial
title_full Improving retention of pediatric feeding tubes with a nasal bridle: a randomized controlled trial
title_fullStr Improving retention of pediatric feeding tubes with a nasal bridle: a randomized controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Improving retention of pediatric feeding tubes with a nasal bridle: a randomized controlled trial
title_short Improving retention of pediatric feeding tubes with a nasal bridle: a randomized controlled trial
title_sort improving retention of pediatric feeding tubes with a nasal bridle a randomized controlled trial
topic Feeding tube
Nasoenteral feeding tube
Dislodgement
Nasal bridle
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-025-08867-x
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