Systematic review: exploring outcomes of commercial and homemade blenderized tube-feeding regimens on feeding tolerance in pediatric patients.

CONTEXT: Increasing numbers of patients and caregivers are requesting transition to blenderized tube feeding. There is a lack of systematic reviews addressing the outcomes of blenderized tube feeding.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to evaluate the association of blenderized tube feeding on feeding tolerance in enterally fed pediatric patients.

DATA SOURCES: A literature search for articles from 2012-2022 using PubMed, Medline, Embase, and CINAHL yielded 78 articles.

DATA EXTRACTION: A description and evaluation of the study's sample, purpose, and results were summarized for 9 studies using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Evidence Analysis Library Worksheet.

DATA ANALYSIS: Nine studies were evaluated using the Evidence Analysis Library Quality Criteria checklist.

CONCLUSIONS

Studies demonstrated an improvement in vomiting (n = 7), gagging/retching and heartburn (n = 6), abdominal pain/upset and distension (n = 3), and diarrhea (n = 6) with blenderized tube feeding. The outcomes of blenderized tube feeding on gas (n = 5) and constipation (n = 9) are variable and remain unclear.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42022369247.