[A prospective randomized study of the usefulness of weighted versus unweighted feeding tubes. A comparison of the transpyloric passage capacity, duration time and the signs of intolerance for enteral nutrition].

Weighted feeding tubes for parenteral nutrition were designed to facilitate duodenal intubation and to reduce the risk of aspiration into the bronchi. The goal of the study was to compare the effectiveness of two types of tubes, weighted and unweighted, with regard to their ability to pass the pylorus in 24 hours' time, the time they remained, their involuntary detubation percentages, and the appearance of signs of digestive intolerance during enteral nutrition. Only patients who preserved some level of consciousness were included. Thirty-eight were fitted with weighted tubes, and 32 with unweighted tubes. Twenty-four feeding tubes reached the duodenum during the first day. The average time the tubes remained after insertion was 10.2 +/- 1.1 (range of 1-51) days. In 20 patients, the tube left the body unnoticed, and 15 displayed signs of intolerance to enteral nutrition, though it had to be suspended in the case of only 5. Weighted feeding tubes showed greater effectiveness in their duodenal intubation rate (47% versus 19%, p = 0.0058), the time they remained in the body (12.2 +/- 1.7 versus 7.9 +/- 1.1 days; p = 0.037) and their percentage of involuntary detubation (6 weighted tubes and 14 unweighted tubes, p = 0.009). There were no differences between the two tube types with regard to the appearance of signs of digestive intolerance. The weighted tubes that reached the duodenum (n = 18) were those which remained for the longest periods; 73% of them remained for over 8 days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)