Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) Practice Exam

What risk do patients receiving tube feedings via a gastrostomy tube face?

1. Hypoglycemia

2. Aspiration

3. Fluid retention

4. Constipation

The correct answer is: Aspiration

Patients receiving tube feedings via a gastrostomy tube are at risk for aspiration, which is a serious condition that occurs when food, liquid, or vomit is inhaled into the lungs instead of being swallowed into the stomach. This risk is heightened because tube feedings bypass the normal swallowing process, and if the feeding is administered too rapidly or if the patient's head is not elevated appropriately during feeding, the risk of aspiration increases. Aspiration can lead to complications such as aspiration pneumonia, which can be life-threatening. In contrast, while hypoglycemia, fluid retention, and constipation are potential risks associated with other types of nutritional support, they are not directly linked with tube feedings through a gastrostomy tube to the same extent. For instance, fluid retention may occur in patients due to underlying medical conditions or excessive fluid intake, and constipation can result from insufficient fiber intake or dehydration, but neither poses the immediate and acute threat that aspiration presents. Therefore, the most significant risk highlighted in this context is aspiration.