Morbidity and unplanned hospital attendance among patients with oesophagogastric cancer treated with home enteral nutrition

Abstract Background Nutritional optimisation is an essential component of prehabilitation and enhanced recovery for patients with oesophageal and gastric cancer, but may be associated with increased burden of inpatient care. The aim of this study was to determine risk factors associated with complications and unplanned hospital attendance among patients treated with home enteral nutrition. Methods Consecutive patients with oesophageal or gastric cancer commencing home enteral nutrition from March 2020-June 2021 were prospectively studied. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of complications associated with home enteral feeding requiring unplanned hospital attendance. Univariable and multivariable linear and logistic regression were used to determine factors independently associated with enteral feeding associated morbidity and healthcare utilisation. Results 70 patients were studied (27% pre neoadjuvant therapy, 63% postoperative; 19% gastrostomy, 81% jejunostomy). Tube complications requiring unplanned hospital attendance occurred in 33% of patients (25% gastrostomy, 38% jejunostomy, P = 0.405), most commonly dislodgement (15%), fixation problem (13%), and blockage (6%). Small bowel obstruction was rare (1.4%). Inpatient length of stay (LOS) following feeding tube placement and training was 5.1±2.4 days (gastrostomy: 5.5±2.7, jejunostomy: 4.4±1.9 days, P = 0.074). 17 unplanned hospital visits among nine patients (13.0%) occurred with a cumulative LOS of 71 inpatient days. On multivariable analysis patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy were at the greatest risk of overall enteral feeding tube morbidity (OR19.34 [3.29–113.56], P = 0.001), dislodgement (OR19.09 [2.35-155.11], P = 0.006) and unplanned hospital attendance (P < 0.001). Older patients were at increased risk of tube dislodgement (OR1.14 [1.02–1.28], P=0.024) and unplanned hospital attendance (P = 0.034). Conclusions Unplanned hospital attendance is common among patients undergoing supplemental home enteral nutrition during treatment for oesophagogastric cancer. Fixation problems and dislodgement account for the majority of presentations, and are more common among older patients and those undergoing neoadjuvant therapy. Pragmatic strategies to optimise tube fixation and minimise the need for unplanned hospital visits among patients receiving home enteral nutrition are urgently needed.