Mechanical complications |
Tube obstruction |
Primary malposition |
Perforation of the intestinal tract |
Secondary displacement of the feeding tube |
Knotting of the tube |
Accidental tube removal |
Breakage and leakage of the tube Leakage and bleeding from insertion site |
Erosion, ulceration and necrosis of skin and mucosa |
Intestinal obstruction (ileus) |
Hemorrhage |
Inadvertent IV infusion of enteral diet |
Infectious complications |
Infection at the tube insertion site |
Aspiration pneumonia |
Nasopharyngeal and ear infections |
Peritonitis |
Infective diarrhea |
Metabolic complications |
Electrolyte disturbances |
Hyper- and hypoglycemia |
Vitamin and trace element deficiency |
Tube feeding syndrome (“Refeeding syndrome”) |