Drug administration via enteral feeding tubes in intensive therapy - terra incognita?

The use of enteral feeding tubes has become more frequent, both in hospital settings and in home care. The feeding tubes serve not only to deliver nutrients, but also as a route for medication provision. Nonetheless, the pharmaceutical, legal and technical implications of medication delivery via enteral feeding tubes are not widely understood by doctors and nurses. Not only is the type of medication relevant, but also the type of feeding tube. Crushing tablets may have detrimental effects for a patient and a staff member too. Administering a drug via enteral feeding tubes usually falls outside the terms of the licence (off-label), so burdening medical staff with the entire responsibility for potential adverse reactions.