For individuals with Pompe disease, eating or drinking can be challenging. Some patients may need feeding tubes to ensure they receive proper nutrition and stay safe.
Let’s look into the feeding issues that can arise with Pompe disease and explore the various feeding tube options available.
How does Pompe disease lead to feeding difficulties? Let’s break it down in a simple way.
Many people with Pompe disease may have trouble eating at some point.
For kids with the infantile form of the disease, eating can be tough. This is because their face and mouth muscles are weak, and their tongue is weak and swollen, making it hard for them to breastfeed. Heart issues can also cause breathing problems and make it hard to eat.
In adults with late-onset Pompe disease, muscle weakness can make swallowing difficult. Jaw muscles can get tired quickly, leading to less food intake.
Trouble swallowing can increase the risk of inhaling food or drink into the lungs, which can cause serious lung infections. To lower this risk and ensure proper nutrition, many patients may need feeding tubes.
What types of feeding tubes are there?
Feeding tubes come in two main types: nasogastric (NG) and gastrostomy tubes (G-tubes). NG tubes go through the nose and down into the stomach, while G-tubes require surgery to place the tube directly into the stomach through the abdomen.
Each type of feeding tube has its own pros and cons. NG tubes are easier to insert and remove, but they can irritate the throat and airways. G-tubes are more secure and discreet, making them a more popular choice.
For patients who can’t handle feeding directly into the stomach, there are other options available. Nasoduodenal tubes go into the duodenum, while nasojejunal tubes go into the jejunum. Gastrojejunal tubes start in the stomach and extend into the jejunum. Jejunal tubes are placed directly into the small intestines through surgery, but they’re not commonly used in children.
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