OBJECTIVE: Describe the main causes for the loss of the feeding tube and analyze the actions that had an impact towards the reduction of this adverse event. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with secondary data from 4228 patients/day using a feeding tube. RESULTS: The main causes for the loss of the tube were: removal by the patient (50%) and obstruction of the tube (36%). The correlation of the loss of the feeding tube with alterations in the patients' cognition (delirium and dementia) and the incrustation of residues in the lumen of the tube were observed. CONCLUSION: The main causes for the removal of the feeding tube were related to the patient and the obstruction. Proactive measures to prevent the obstruction of the tube had a good impact during the period in which they were applied, whereas other measures had low impact.
Nursing care; Nursing audit; Nursing service, hospital; Quality indicators, health care; Intensive care; Intubation, gastrointestinal
