STROMECTOL® (ivermectin), an oral scabicide, is often administered to patients as a simple suspension via a feeding tube. It has been reported that the effectiveness of ivermectin administration via a feeding tube is dependent on the devices or techniques employed. This route of administration reduces the dose of ivermectin by 10-50% compared to that associated with oral administration. Therefore, here we propose appropriate devices and techniques.
In this report, we compared the recovery ratio when a simple suspension was administered via transnasal tubes of different diameters, different materials, flushing water volumes, slack and bed angle. No differences in recovery ratio were observed following the use of tubes constructed from polyvinyl chloride, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyurethane, and silicone.
Furthermore, no significant differences in ivermectin recovery were observed as a result of using tubes with diameters of 8 French (Fr) and 12 Fr. However, we found tubes with diameters of 7 Fr were blocked during use.
Furthermore, no noticeable differences in the recovery ratio were observed after flushing water volumes higher or lower than the internal volume of the transnasal tubes. Slack in the tubes had no influence on the recovery ratio. In contrast, a 9% increase in the recovery ratio of ivermectin was observed when the patient's bed was angled at 30° compared to that when the bed remained horizontal.
In conclusion, to ensure higher recovery ratios of ivermectin with administration via transnasal tubes, it is recommended that tubes with diameters over 8 Fr be used, and that an angle greater than 30° be applied to the patient's bed.
