Using ultrasound to check feeding tube placement in ICU patients
Bedside Ultrasound Assessment of Feeding Tube Position in the Intensive Care Unit: the US-FEED Study
This study tests if using ultrasound can help doctors quickly and accurately check the placement of feeding tubes in critically ill adults, compared to traditional x-rays.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 423 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul) |
| Trial ID | NCT06077617 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational study evaluates the effectiveness of bedside ultrasound in determining the correct position of feeding tubes in critically ill adult patients compared to traditional x-ray methods. Conducted in a multicenter setting, the study involves adult patients requiring tube feeding, with ultrasound assessments performed immediately after tube placement. The study aims to assess both the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound and its feasibility for use by practitioners with minimal training in busy intensive care environments.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are critically ill adults aged 18 and older who require tube feeding and have undergone blind insertion of a feeding tube.
Not a fit: Patients with major abdominal wounds, those requiring endoscopic guidance for tube placement, or those who are pregnant may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could enhance the safety and efficiency of feeding tube placement in critically ill patients.
How similar studies have performed: While the use of ultrasound for tube placement verification is gaining interest, this specific approach in critically ill patients is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age greater than or equal to 18 years old; * Need for a tube feeding for receiving diet and/or medication, as indicated by the medical team; * Blind insertion of a tube feeding in the intensive care unit, following the standard operating procedure; * Presence of a trained physician for ultrasound scanning of the tube feeding immediately after installation. Exclusion Criteria: * Major abdominal postoperative wounds, peritoneostomy, or any other conditions that preclude ultrasound abdominal examination; * Exclusive presence of a gastric decompression probe, which does not require radiographic confirmation; * Tube feeding introduced under digestive endoscopy guidance; * Gestation; * Abdominal radiography confirming the tube position obtained before the ultrasound assessment.
Where this trial is running
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul
- Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre — Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Ana Carolina P Antonio, PhD — HCPorto Alegre
- Study coordinator: Juliana P Antonio, PhD
- Email: juantonio@hcpa.edu.br
- Phone: +555133598530
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.