# The Impact of Blenderized Tube Feeding on Gastrointestinal Symptoms, a Scoping Review
## 3 Results
### Findings in the Pediatric Population  
Among studies analyzing GI symptoms' prevalence in the pediatric population, the [PERSON] et al. cross-sectional research reported a lower rate of GI symptoms among BTF users (60% of 217) rather than SCF users (97% of 214). The most frequently reported GI problems in children receiving BTF versus SCF was constipation (18.6% vs. 17.8%) followed by vomiting (13.6% vs. 21%), gas/bloating (11.4% vs. 18.3%), diarrhea (5.4% vs. 11.4%), nausea (3.9% vs. 14.8%), pain (3.9% vs. 11.7%), and fever (1.1% vs. 2.15%) ([PERSON] et al., 2015). \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l c c c c c c c c c c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Study** & **Q1** & **Q2** & **Q3** & **Q4** & **Q5** & **Q6** & **Q7** & **Q8** & **Q9** & **Q10** & **Q11** & **Q12** & **Q13** & **Q14** &
\begin{tabular}{c} **Quality Total** \\ **Quality Score** \\ \end{tabular} \\ \hline [PERSON] et al., 2018* [15] & Y & Y & Y & Y & NR & NO & NO & NO & Y & NA & Y & NO & NA & NO & Fair \\ \hline [PERSON] et al., 2019* [16] & Y & Y & Y & Y & NR & NO & NO & NO & Y & NA & Y & NO & NA & NO & Fair \\ \hline [PERSON] et al., 2015* [17] & NO & Y & Y & NR & NO & Y & Y & NO & NO & NO & Y & NO & NA & NO & Poor \\ \hline [PERSON] et al., 2020 [18] & Y & Y & Y & Y & NR & Y & Y & Y & Y & Y & NO & Y & NO & Good \\ \hline [PERSON] et al., 2020 [19] & Y & Y & Y & Y & NO & Y & Y & Y & Y & Y & NO & Y & NO & Good \\ \hline [PERSON] et al., 2017 [20] & Y & Y & Y & Y & NO & Y & Y & Y & Y & Y & NO & Y & NO & Good \\ \hline [PERSON] et al., 2020 [21] & Y & Y & Y & Y & NO & Y & Y & Y & Y & NO & Y & Y & Good \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: Quality Assessment of Included Studies using NIH Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional * Studies. In [PERSON] et al. 's survey, a marked improvement of upper GI symptoms was reported by most caregivers in children after commencing BTF (\(n=12\)). Specifically, the median score obtained through a novel qualitative questionnaire, developed using items from a well-validated scale on feeding assessment in the pediatric age, showed a significant improvement in GI symptoms. Vomiting and nausea frequency changed from 'often' to 'rare', and reflux changed from 'often' to 'rare'. An improvement in aspiration rate was experienced by one-third of the populations analyzed, with only one caregiver reporting a worsening post-BTF initiation. The reported perceived benefit of BTF on clinical outcomes included a positive trend in bowel habits (\(n=10\)), specifically in constipation (from 'often' to'sometimes') and diarrhea rates (from 'rarely' to 'never'). Abdominal pain rates remained primarily unchanged [16]. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{p{28.5 pt} p{28.5 pt} p{28.5 pt} p{28.5 pt} p{28.5 pt} p{28.5 pt} p{28.5 pt} p{28.5 pt} p{28.5 pt} p{28.5 pt} p{28.5 pt} p{28.5 pt} p{28.5 pt} p{28.5 pt} p{28.5 pt}} \hline \hline
**Study** & **Q1** & **Q2** & **Q3** & **Q4** & **Q5** & **Q6** & **Q7** & **Q8** & **Q9** & **Q10** & **Q11** & **Q12** & **Quality (Total Quality Score)** \\ \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{\
\begin{tabular}{} \end{tabular} } & \multirow{2}{*}{Y} & \multirow{2}{*}{Y} & \multirow{2}{*}{Y} & \multirow{2}{*}{Y} & \multirow{2}{*}{Y} & \multirow{2}{*}{NO} & \multirow{2}{*}{Y} & \multirow{2}{*}{Y} & \multirow{2}{*}{NO} & \multirow{2}{*}{Y} & \multirow{2}{*}{NO} & \multirow{2}{*}{Y} & \multirow{2}{*}{NA} & \multirow{2}{*}{Fair} \\  & & & & & & & & & & & & & & \\ \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{
\begin{tabular}{} \end{tabular} } & \multirow{2}{*}{Y} & \multirow{2}{*}{Y} & \multirow{2}{*}{Y} & \multirow{2}{*}{Y} & \multirow{2}{*}{Y} & \multirow{2}{*}{NO} & \multirow{2}{*}{Y} & \multirow{2}{*}{Y} & \multirow{2}{*}{NO} & \multirow{2}{*}{Y} & \multirow{2}{*}{Y} & \multirow{2}{*}{NA} & \multirow{2}{*}{Fair} \\  & & & & & & & & & & & & & & \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 2: Quality Assessment of Included Studies using NIH Quality Assessment Tool for Before-After (Pre-Post) Studies with No Control Group.