Presenter Status
Medical Student
Abstract Type
Clinical Research
Primary Mentor or Principal Investigator
Dana Bakula
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
20-5-2026 12:00 PM
End Date
20-5-2026 1:00 PM
Abstract Text
Background:
Feeding tube dependence in medically complex children is associated with feeding aversion, caregiver burden and stress, and increased healthcare utilization. Feeding tube weaning is an essential component of care for children who are tube-fed. The literature indicates that tube weaning protocols are largely successful, and younger children have the highest rate of success. However, there are few long-term studies of how well children can sustain their growth and avoid adverse events like hospitalizations following tube weaning. It is critical to understand long term risk following tube wean and identify which patients may need additional monitoring and support following successful tube wean.
Objectives/Goal:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate complications of tube weaning, including poor growth and readmission rate. We also aim to assess if age, which is known to moderate tube weaning success, has an impact on complication rates.
Methods/Design:
We conducted a prospective clinical trial of the CHAMP for the Feeder tube weaning program, which uses remote patient monitoring to support multidisciplinary feeding tube weaning for children aged 0-6 years. At enrollment, we collected demographic, medical, and anthropometric data (e.g., height, weight) via chart review. We repeated chart review for anthropometric data at study end (4 weeks after tube wean completion), 1 month, and 3 months following study end.
Results:
We enrolled 83 patients for tube weaning; 56 patients have reached study end, and 48 patients (86%) were successful in tube weaning (achieving all calories by mouth). Of those, 39 have reached 1-month follow-up, and 23 have reached 3-month follow-up. On average, patients were 34.73 months of age (SD=16.86). Most patients gained weight from baseline to study end (M=+.16 kg), and 1- (M=+.40 kg) and 3-month (M=+.84 kg) follow-up. However, a subset of patients lost weight over time (n= 11). Patients were more likely to lose weight over time if they were older at the start of tube wean (rs=.45-.76, ps < .01). One patient was admitted to the hospital related to nutrition or GI concerns following tube weaning, but due to small sample size, covariates could not be assessed. . Additionally, patients who were initially successful with tube weaning, but ended up needing to use the tube again by 1 or 3 month follow up (n= 1), were more likely to be admitted to the hospital (r=.689, p< .001).
Conclusions:
We found that patients who were older at time of tube weaning were more likely to lose weight following feeding tube weaning. Only one child had a GI-related hospital admission following tube weaning. However, about a quarter of patients lost weight following tube weaning, indicating that there is a small but notable subset of children who may require close long-term monitoring following tube weaning to support their ongoing success. Tube weaning should ideally occur earlier in life to support optimal success, but when weaning older children, closer monitoring should be considered. Future research should closer evaluate how weight-for-length z scores changes over time to not just assess weight, but how overall nutrition changes following tube wean.
Impact of Age on Growth, Readmission, and Malnutrition after Pediatric Feeding Tube Weaning
Background:
Feeding tube dependence in medically complex children is associated with feeding aversion, caregiver burden and stress, and increased healthcare utilization. Feeding tube weaning is an essential component of care for children who are tube-fed. The literature indicates that tube weaning protocols are largely successful, and younger children have the highest rate of success. However, there are few long-term studies of how well children can sustain their growth and avoid adverse events like hospitalizations following tube weaning. It is critical to understand long term risk following tube wean and identify which patients may need additional monitoring and support following successful tube wean.
Objectives/Goal:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate complications of tube weaning, including poor growth and readmission rate. We also aim to assess if age, which is known to moderate tube weaning success, has an impact on complication rates.
Methods/Design:
We conducted a prospective clinical trial of the CHAMP for the Feeder tube weaning program, which uses remote patient monitoring to support multidisciplinary feeding tube weaning for children aged 0-6 years. At enrollment, we collected demographic, medical, and anthropometric data (e.g., height, weight) via chart review. We repeated chart review for anthropometric data at study end (4 weeks after tube wean completion), 1 month, and 3 months following study end.
Results:
We enrolled 83 patients for tube weaning; 56 patients have reached study end, and 48 patients (86%) were successful in tube weaning (achieving all calories by mouth). Of those, 39 have reached 1-month follow-up, and 23 have reached 3-month follow-up. On average, patients were 34.73 months of age (SD=16.86). Most patients gained weight from baseline to study end (M=+.16 kg), and 1- (M=+.40 kg) and 3-month (M=+.84 kg) follow-up. However, a subset of patients lost weight over time (n= 11). Patients were more likely to lose weight over time if they were older at the start of tube wean (rs=.45-.76, ps < .01). One patient was admitted to the hospital related to nutrition or GI concerns following tube weaning, but due to small sample size, covariates could not be assessed. . Additionally, patients who were initially successful with tube weaning, but ended up needing to use the tube again by 1 or 3 month follow up (n= 1), were more likely to be admitted to the hospital (r=.689, p< .001).
Conclusions:
We found that patients who were older at time of tube weaning were more likely to lose weight following feeding tube weaning. Only one child had a GI-related hospital admission following tube weaning. However, about a quarter of patients lost weight following tube weaning, indicating that there is a small but notable subset of children who may require close long-term monitoring following tube weaning to support their ongoing success. Tube weaning should ideally occur earlier in life to support optimal success, but when weaning older children, closer monitoring should be considered. Future research should closer evaluate how weight-for-length z scores changes over time to not just assess weight, but how overall nutrition changes following tube wean.
