Intermittent Oro-esophageal Tube Feeding in Late Dysphagia for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Summary

This is a prospective multicenter study with patients with delayed dysphagia after radiotherapy. Patients enrolled are randomly divided equally into the observation group and the control group. All patients receive conventional care, and the observation group received Intermittent Oro-esophageal Tube Feeding while the control group received Nasogastric Tube Feeding for enteral nutrition support. Baseline information (demographics, medical history, etc.), nutritional status at admission and after treatment, depression, dysphagia, and quality of life after treatment as well as adverse events are compared.

Conditions

• Dysphagia

Interventions

DEVICE

Intermittent Oral-esophageal Tube Feeding

The specific procedure was as follows: the infant was placed in a semi-recumbent or sitting position with the head fixed. Before each feeding, the infant's oral and nasal secretions were to be cleared. An intermittent oro-esophageal tube was appropriately lubricated with water on the head part. The professional medical staff held the tube and slowly inserted it through one side of the mouth into the upper part of the esophagus. The depth of insertion depended on the patient's age and height. After each feeding, the tube was immediately removed, and the patient was held upright for at least 30 minutes in case of reflux.

DEVICE

Nasogastric Tube Feeding

Nasogastric Tube Feeding were used for feeding to provide nutritional support. Each feeding was administered by a nurse using the infant's mother's breast milk through the tube. The amount of each feeding varied from 20 to 100 ml depending on the age of the infant, with feedings given every 2 to 3 hours, approximately 10 times per day. The duration of each feeding procedure ranged from 10 to 20 minutes. The total daily intake ranged from 200 to 1000 ml. Each tube was kept indwelling for 5 to 7 days. When the tube needed to be replaced, it was removed after the last feeding of a day and a new tube was to be inserted through the other nostril on the following morning to continue the nutritional support.

BEHAVIORAL

comprehensive rehabilitation therapy

Both groups were given comprehensive rehabilitation therapy. The main intervention measures included: 1) non-invasive ventilator treatment, generally at least once every night and typically not exceeding continuous daily usage.; 2) attention to feeding and sleeping positions, with a recommended sleeping position of lateral recumbent and the head of the bed raised by 20-30°; 3) swallowing function training, such as tongue muscle stretching training, assisted anterior jaw protrusion training, lemon ice stimulation to the soft palate, pharyngeal wall, etc., generally 5 days per week, twice per day, 5-20 minutes each time; 4) pulmonary ultrashort wave therapy, generally at least 2-3 times a week, and not more than once a day; 5) physical therapy, such as intensive training for gross motor functions including lifting the head, turning over, sitting, crawling, standing, etc., generally 3-5 days per week, 1-2 times per day, 5-20 min each time.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Nieto Luis, Master · Site Coordinator of United Medical Group located in Miami

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-02-28

Primary Completion

2024-04-30

Completion

2024-04-30

Countries

• China

Study Locations