A randomized trial comparing the Cortrak system with the Endoscopic technique for duodenal feeding tube placement: CORRECT study

Increasing evidence confirms the important role of enteral feeding in (critically ill) patients. A substantial part of these patients have an indication for duodenal or jejunal feeding. However, duodenal feeding tube (DFT) placement can be difficult, time-consuming, or costly, depending on the technique used. Endoscopic tube placement has high success rates, but the availability of appropriate staff and specialized equipment is required for this technique, making this technique costly and difficult to provide consistently. Several other techniques for DFT placement have been assessed, all require a high level of expertise and most have not been compared with the endoscopic technique. An electromagnetic tube placement device, the CORTRAK system, is increasing in popularity and several observational studies have demonstrated this technique to be safe, efficient, and cost-effective. Only two small studies have compared the CORTRAK system with other placement techniques in a controlled setting. The aim of this study is to compare the success rate of duodenal feeding tube placement using the CORTRAK system with the endoscopic technique.

Duodenal feeding tube placement with the Cortrak system is superior to endoscopic placement with regard to success.

-Before placement: patient characteristics

-Abdominal X-ray within 3 hours after placement

-Follow-up until 10 days after placement; potential intervention related complications, feeding tube migration or clogging, need for replacement

Patients are randomized for electromagnetically visualized duodenal feeding tube placement with the CORTRAK system or duodenal feeding tube placement using endoscopy. The CORTRAK system (CORPAK MedSystems, Inc., Illinois, U.S.A) is a non-invasive electromagnetic tube placement device.