Comparative Evaluation of efficacy of modified digital enteral tube feeding pump to facilitate accuracy safety and patient acceptability as compared to conventional method in cases advised intragastric tube feed

Abstract

Abstract newlineBackground: Enteral tube feeding is a critical intervention for patients unable to meet newlinenutritional requirements orally. Conventional methods such as manual gravity-assisted newlinesyringe feeding and Kangaroo pumps are widely used but present limitations in terms of newlineaccuracy, safety, and patient comfort. To address these gaps, a Modified Digital Enteral newlineTube Feeding Pump (MDETFP) was developed, integrating microprocessor-based newlinecontrols, automated alarms, and cloud-enabled monitoring for precise, safe, and newlinepatient-centered intragastric feed delivery. newlineMethods: A researcher-blinded, three-arm, randomized interventional study was conducted newlineon adult patients (gt18 years) prescribed nasogastric tube feeding. Participants were newlineassigned to Group A (manual syringe), Group B (Kangaroo pump), or Group C newline(MDETFP). Outcomes were assessed across three domains: accuracy (deviation between newlineprescribed and delivered volume), safety (complications such as aspiration, reflux, or tube newlineblockages), and patient acceptability (comfort, ease of use, satisfaction). Statistical analyses newlineincluded t-tests and chi-square tests with significance at p lt 0.05. newlineResults: The MDETFP outperformed conventional methods. - Accuracy: Group C achieved newlinethe highest mean accuracy (16.76 ± 1.73) compared to Group B (16.74 ± 1.64) and Group newlineA (15.54 ± 1.74) (p lt 0.01). - Safety: Group C recorded the best safety scores (23.72 ± newline2.86) versus Group B (21.88 ± 3.24) and Group A (20.60 ± 2.50), with significantly fewer newlinecomplications (p lt 0.01). - Acceptability: Patient satisfaction was highest in Group C, newlineattributed to ease of handling, comfort, and confidence in device performance. The overall newlineutility index weighted at 20% (accuracy), 30% (safety), and 50% (acceptability) confirmed newlinethe superiority of the MDETFP. newlineConclusion: The Modified Digital Enteral Tube Feeding Pump demonstrated significant newlineimprovements in feeding accuracy, patient safety, and acceptability compared to manual newlinesyringe and Kangaroo pump methods. Its integration into clinical practice can newlines