抄録
The administration of medicine using a nasogastric tube is occasionally used in epileptic patients with dysphagia. Such a tube occludes more frequently in pediatric patients than in adults, since the diameter of tube for a child is smaller than that for an adult. We therefore examined the passage of 28 medicines (13 antiepileptic drugs, 10 antibiotics, 2 medicine for intestinal disorders and 3 others) commonly used in pediatric epilepsy patients through a nasogastric tube for pediatric patients. The occlusion of the tube by medicines depended on the solubility and suspension of the medicine but not on the dosage form such as either fine powders or granules. The occlusion of the tube improved by the powderization of the medicine or increasing the diameter of the tube. Although some medicine did stick to the inner wall of the tube, such attachment was removed by washing out the tube with water. Providing this information to the doctor facilitated the rational prescription planning by confirming the diameter of tube and the medicine of the patients. In addition, the results of the current study are useful for pharmacists since they help in providing improved pharmaceutical care and counseling for pediatric epilepsy patients using a nasogastric tube.
