This pilot study was carried out to establish how many interruptions occurred to patients receiving continuous enteral feeding regimens and the associated percentage of feed losses. It measured how much of a prescribed volume of feed patients actually received during a period of enteral nutritional support. The data for 15 patients (medical and surgical) who were maintained on a standard feeding regimen for a minimum period of five days (range 5–10 days) were analysed. All feeds were administered using Abbott Flexiflo enteral feeding pumps. The patients' weight and serum albumin values were recorded prior to, and at the end of, the study. Although all patients received significantly less feed than had been prescribed there were no significant changes in either of these variables.

The cucumber technique is most useful for endoscopic resection cases in which tumour, dysplasia or suspicious lesions have been excised. Detailed information on resection margins is invaluable during multidisciplinary team discussions on patient management. Detailed photography of mounted specimens enables both laryngologist and pathologist to orientate and interpret specimens accurately.