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Selected Works of Amy L. Spurlock
Presentation
Can Blenderized Tube Feeding Improve Patient Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancer?
ASPEN Nutrition Science and Practice Conference (2022)
  • Teresa Johnson, Troy University
  • Amy Spurlock, Troy University
  • Ali Pritchett, Montgomery Cancer Center
  • Leah Pierce, Montgomery Cancer Center
  • Jenna Hussey, Troy University
  • Kelly Johnson, Troy University
  • Holly Carter, Troy University
  • Stephen Davidson, Alabama Oncology Hematology Associates at the Montgomery Cancer Center
  • Manpreet Mundi, Mayo Clinic
  • Lisa Epp, Mayo Clinic Rochester
  • Ryan Hurt, Mayo Clinic
Abstract
Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the seventh most common cancer in the world and cases continue to increase.Malnutrition is diagnosed in up to 60% of HNC patients at treatment initiation, rising to 88% during treatment. Enteral nutrition is frequently used to combat malnutrition during chemoradiation. Nearly 60% of HNC patients lose up to 20% of their body weight in the first 6 weeks of treatment in spite of nutrition support. Blenderized tube feeding (BTF) may ameliorate weight loss, improve gastrointestinal (GI) function and quality of life in adults, including HNC patients (QOL).

Methods: In this open-label, prospective pilot study, 30 patients with HNC were recruited to replace half of their standard commercial formula (CF) with BTF two weeks after starting tube feeding of 100% CF. After three weeks on 50% BTF and 50% CF, patients were to switch back to the initial 100% CF. Weight, body mass index (BMI), GI symptoms and QOL scores were tracked for 6 weeks from the first week of tube feeding placement.

Results: After replacing half of the CF with BTF, all but one patient opted for 100% BTF and none of the patients wanted to return to only CF feeding. Of the 16 patients who completed the 6-week assessment period, weights and BMI for 15 patients trended upward. For most patients, QOL and oral intake increased and GI symptoms decreased over the six-week period, particularly during weeks 3 and 4 when impact of treatment is particularly exacting on patients with HNC.

Conclusion: BTF effectively mitigated weight loss, GI symptoms, QOL scores, and total energy intake in this group of patients with HNC on tube feeding for 6 weeks. The results of this study are consistent with other published papers on BTF use in adults.
Disciplines
Publication Date
March, 2022
Location
Seattle, WA
Citation Information
Teresa Johnson, Amy Spurlock, Ali Pritchett, Leah Pierce, et al.. "Can Blenderized Tube Feeding Improve Patient Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancer?" ASPEN Nutrition Science and Practice Conference (2022)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/amy-spurlock/16/