Many patients, especially those with altered mental status,
may repeatedly pull these tubes out despite restraints,
which may cause an additional risk of reinsertion or mal-
positioning. Most commonly, tubes are secured to patients’
skin with adhesive tape, semipermeable membranes or
commercial fixation devices. Despite this, there is a
relatively high risk of unintentional tube dislodgement,
either by the patient or during routine nursing care. Previous
published reports on unplanned tube removal suggest an
incidence of approximately 40% (Brandt and Mittendorf,
1999; McClave et al., 1999; Meer, 1987).