Hidekazu Sugawara, MD, PhD, Makoto Ishikawa, MD,
Masako Takayama, Registered Dietitian, Takatsugu Okamoto, MD, PhD,
Shigeru Sonoda, MD, PhD, Ichiro Miyai, MD, PhD, Junko Fujitani, MD, PhD,
Akio Tsubahara, MD, PhD
Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 6: 1-5, 2015
Purpose: To compare the effects of two tube feeding
management methods; nasogastric tube feeding and
intermittent tube feeding, implemented during
the process of rehabilitation for dysphagia due to
cerebrovascular disorders on the outcome of oral
intake.
Methods: Dysphagic patients who were admitted
to convalescent rehabilitation wards because of
cerebrovascular disorders were divided into two
groups: 398 patients who underwent nasogastric tube
feeding (NG group) and 114 patients who underwent
intermittent tube feeding (ITF group). The two groups
were compared with respect to outcome of dysphagia
rehabilitation.
Results: The proportion of patients who were able to
meet nutrition needs by oral intake of three meals
alone at discharge was significantly higher in the ITF
group than in the NG group (71% versus 53%, p =
0.0007). The proportion of patients showing
improvement in food intake level scale (FILS) during
hospitalization was also significantly higher in the ITF
group (p = 0.007). The mean duration from admission
to start of direct training was significantly shorter in
the ITF group than in the NG group (9.6 ± 13.9 days
versus 19.1 ± 25.8 days, p = 0.001). The mean duration
from admission to start of oral food intake was also
significantly shorter in the ITF group than in the NG
group (20.1 ± 26.4 days versus 27.3 ± 31.8 days, p =
0.049).
Conclusion: The results in this study suggest that
tube feeding management using ITF achieves better
outcome of dysphagia rehabilitation compared to
using NG.
Key words: intermittent tube feeding, nasogastric tube feeding, convalescent rehabilitation ward, dysphagia rehabilitation, cerebrovascular disorder