Drug administration via enteral feeding tubes

Abstract

The oral administration of medications during enteral feeding may be associated with a lack in absorption and bioavailability as well as a quick release of the drug in case of crushing of slow-release pharmaceutical formulation. For these reasons, liquid or dispersible formulations are preferable. Their administration usually requires the interruption of enteral feeding and the flush of feeding tubes. Guidelines have been recommended by the pharmacy department of Erasme hospital in Brussels; however, a practice survey showed that errors are still frequent.