Blenderized food tube feeding in very young pediatric patients with special healthcare needs

Background: Up to 85% of children with severe developmental disabilities have feeding disorders and require enteral tube feeding. Many caregivers desire blenderized tube feeding (BTF) instead of commercial formula (CF) for their child, citing a desire for a more physiologic feeding, to reduce gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and/or promote oral intake. Methods: In this retrospective, single-center study, medical records (n = 34) of very young children (aged ≤36 months) with severe developmental disabilities were reviewed. Comparisons of growth parameters, GI symptoms, oral feeding, and GI medication use were made between the initial introduction of BTF and again at the last patient encounter when the children aged out of the program. Results: Of the 34 charts reviewed (16 male and 18 female patients), comparisons between baseline BTF introduction and the last patient encounter indicated reductions in adverse GI symptoms, significant GI medication reduction (P = 0.000), increased oral food intake, and nonsignificant improvements in growth parameters. These positive outcomes were realized whether children received full or partial BTF or type of BTF formulation. Conclusion: Consistent with similar research studies, transitioning very young children with significant special healthcare needs from CF to BTF resulted in improvement in GI symptoms, reduced need for GI medications, supported growth goals, and contributed to improved oral feeding.