Efficacy of a Viokace Pancreatic Enzyme Protocol for Clearing Occluded Enteral Feeding Tubes: A Quality Assurance Evaluation

Background: A previous retrospective study documented restored patency to 48.2% of occluded enteral feeding tubes using alkalinized Creon pancreatic enzyme capsules. In light of the low efficacy rate, the institutional enteral feeding tube clearance protocol was subsequently revised to incorporate a newly marketed non–enteric-coated Viokace pancreatic enzyme tablet, despite the lack of published data for this indication. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a Viokace-based alkalinized pancreatic enzyme protocol to clear occluded enteral feeding tubes in a university health system. Methods: This retrospective, cohort quality assurance study included adult and pediatric patients receiving a Viokace-based pancreatic enzyme protocol for enteral feeding tube occlusions in a university health system during a 12-month period. The primary outcome was effectiveness in enteral tube clearance as documented in the electronic medical record. Efficacy of the new protocol was also compared with a Creon-based alkalinized solution using historical data. Results: The Viokace protocol successfully cleared 176 of the 277 (63.5%) occluded enteral feeding tubes occurring in 205 patients included in the analysis. The revised protocol was significantly more effective at clearing occluded enteral feeding tubes (P = 0.0056) than a protocol using Creon pancreatic enzyme capsules. Conclusion: According to this retrospective evaluation, an alkalinized Viokace pancreatic enzyme protocol was effective in clearing 63.5% of occluded enteral feeding tubes. This significantly higher success rate than previously documented with a Creon-based protocol supports the change in pancreatic enzyme formulations in the institutional protocol.