A Corpak is a brand of feeding tube used to deliver liquid nutrition directly into the stomach or small intestine. The name comes from CORPAK MedSystems, a U.S. company (now part of Avanos Medical) that manufactures both the feeding tubes and an electromagnetic tracking system called CORTRAK that helps guide them into place. In hospitals and clinics, staff often use “Corpak” as shorthand for any feeding tube made by this company, similar to how people say “Band-Aid” instead of “adhesive bandage.”
How a Corpak Tube Works
A Corpak tube is a thin, flexible tube made of polyurethane, a soft medical-grade plastic that holds up well inside the body over time. The tube is threaded through the nose and down into the digestive tract. Depending on where the tip needs to sit, it can rest in the stomach (nasogastric placement), the first section of the small intestine called the duodenum (nasoduodenal), or further along in the jejunum (nasojejunal). Tubes placed deeper in the intestine are typically used for people who can’t tolerate feeding into the stomach, often due to reflux, delayed stomach emptying, or a higher risk of aspiration.
Corpak also makes a type of gastrostomy tube, sometimes called a Corpak PEG tube, which goes through the skin of the abdomen directly into the stomach. This version is held in place by a small bumper inside the stomach and is used for longer-term feeding.
The tubes come in several sizes. Adult and pediatric options range from 8 to 12 French (a unit measuring the tube’s outer diameter), with lengths of 36, 43, or 55 inches depending on how far into the digestive tract the tip needs to reach.
What Makes Corpak Different: The CORTRAK System
The feature that sets Corpak apart from generic feeding tubes is the CORTRAK Enteral Access System. Each Corpak tube contains a thin internal wire called a stylet with a tiny electromagnetic transmitter at its tip. During insertion, a receiver placed on the patient’s body picks up the signal from that transmitter and displays the tube’s path on an LCD screen in real time. The clinician can watch the tube travel down the esophagus and into the stomach or intestine, adjusting as needed.
This electromagnetic guidance helps reduce the chance of the tube ending up in the wrong place, particularly the airway. Misplacement of nasogastric tubes into the lungs happens in anywhere from 0.3% to 15% of blind insertions (those done without any imaging guidance). When a tube enters the airway instead of the esophagus, it can cause serious complications including pneumonia, lung collapse, or worse. Real-time tracking gives clinicians a way to catch a wrong turn before the tube is fully advanced.
Even with the CORTRAK system, an X-ray is still considered the gold standard to confirm the tube’s final position. The tubes have radiopaque markings, meaning they show up clearly on X-ray film so a radiologist or qualified clinician can verify exactly where the tip is sitting.
What Insertion Feels Like
If you’re about to have a Corpak tube placed, the process typically happens at the bedside without sedation. The tube is lubricated and passed through one nostril, down the back of the throat, and into the digestive tract. You’ll likely be asked to swallow sips of water as the tube advances, which helps guide it into the esophagus rather than the airway. The sensation is uncomfortable, particularly a gagging feeling as the tube passes the back of the throat, but the discomfort usually fades once the tube is in position.
The internal stylet is removed after placement, leaving just the soft, flexible tube behind. The external portion is taped to the nose and cheek to keep it from shifting.
How Long a Corpak Tube Stays In
Nasal feeding tubes are generally considered temporary compared to surgically placed options. For tubes positioned in the jejunum, clinical guidelines suggest they can remain in place for roughly 3 to 6 months, though the practical limit depends on the manufacturer’s specifications and how well the tube holds up. Tubes placed through the abdominal wall into the stomach or intestine (like a Corpak PEG) tend to last longer, typically 6 to 12 months before replacement.
In practice, many tubes are replaced earlier because they become clogged or accidentally dislodged rather than because they’ve hit a time limit.
Daily Care and Preventing Clogs
The most common day-to-day problem with any nasal feeding tube is clogging. Liquid formula or crushed medications can build up inside the narrow tubing and block it. Preventing this is straightforward: flush the tube with warm water before and after every feeding and before and after giving any medication through it. Even on days when the tube isn’t being used for feeding or medicine, a warm water flush keeps the inside clear.
If a clog does develop, gently flushing with warm water often resolves it. Forcing water through aggressively or using sharp objects to clear the tube can damage it or cause it to rupture, so patience matters here.
Risks to Be Aware Of
The most serious risk occurs during placement: the tube entering the airway instead of the esophagus. This is why position verification, whether through the CORTRAK system, X-ray, or both, is a critical step before any feeding begins. Tubes placed without confirmed positioning have led to cases of pneumonia, septic shock, and lung collapse.
Longer-term risks include irritation or ulceration of the nasal passages and throat from the tube rubbing against tissue over weeks or months. Some patients develop sinus discomfort or a sore throat that persists as long as the tube is in place. In rare cases, prolonged nasal tube use has been associated with vocal cord irritation from pressure on nearby nerves.
For people with certain skull fractures, nasal tube insertion carries a unique and serious risk of the tube entering the skull base, so alternative feeding routes are used in those situations.