The current study’s goals were to evaluate the efficacy of a tube weaning programme and to identify variables related with success and failure. This was a retrospective cohort research that included all paediatric patients on enteral nutrition (EN) for at least 6 months who had at least one attempt at weaning from 2012 to 2017, with a minimum follow-up of 6 months following EN cessation. Each child’s weaning programme was tailored to their own needs. Weaning success was predetermined. Multivariate analysis was used to explore success-related factors. At a median age of 51-40 months, 94 individuals were recruited, with a total of 114 attempts at weaning made. In 80 attempts, success was attained. One hundred and three weaning efforts were made at home, with a follow-up in the outpatient clinic, most of which involved a gradual reduction in tube feeding. Patients who required psychological help during weaning failed at a higher rate than those who did not. Failure was also predicted by the existence of poor oral feeding skills at the time of EN cessation.

For tube-dependent children, our gradual, largely outpatient-based, patient-tailored EN weaning approach is successful. Children who require psychological assistance during weaning and those with poor oral eating abilities constitute a subset of at-risk children for whom additional weaning techniques may be required.

Reference: https://journals.lww.com/jpgn/Abstract/2021/01000/Factors_Associated_With_Success_and_Failure_of.28.aspx

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