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Traveling with Moog

For patients on enteral or parenteral nutrition, traveling can be a source of stress and anxiety. But, with a bit of preparation, travel can be a relatively easy and stress-free experience.

As the manufacturer of both the Infinity family of enteral feeding pumps and the CURLIN 6000 Ambulatory Infusion Pump, Moog has put together a few tips to help our patients and providers be able to better plan for any upcoming travel.

 

Planning for travel

  • Talk with your healthcare provider: The first step to ensuring a successful trip is talking with your healthcare provider before making any travel plans, if possible. This will help your provider adjust treatments, determine any risks, and help you plan a packing list of supplies. You may also find it helpful to have your physician write a letter explaining your circumstances. Having this conversation can help you to determine if travel is appropriate and will help you develop plans for dealing with any emergencies while on your trip.
  • Prepare your list of supplies: The next step is to prepare your list of supplies you will need ahead of time. Be sure to check with your provider to ensure you have adequate supplies for your travel plans. You should also pack extras of your more often used supplies in the event of loss or breakage. It’s also a good idea to pack 1-2 days’ worth of materials and supplies in your carry-on bag to be kept with you.
  • Prepare for emergencies: It is important to plan for any emergencies that may happen during your trip. Identify hospitals or infusion centers near where you will be staying on your travel route. Discuss with your provider appropriate steps to take if you get sick or are unable to administer your nutrition while away. Your healthcare provider may also have recommendations for trusted facilities in your destination area.

 

Tips for traveling with enteral formula

  • To avoid spoilage, it is recommended that you travel with a small, soft cooler and ice pack. As a reminder, opened formula is good for 24 hours when it is kept refrigerated. Ensure that your destination has refrigeration for storing formula. It is recommended to contact your formula manufacturer, as they may have additional recommendations.
  • If you use a pump for your feeding, it is important to check with your healthcare provider to see if an emergency gravity bag may be helpful for your trip.
  • Be sure to weigh your options to see which method of transport would be best: shipping formula to where you are staying, paying extra luggage fees, and taking the formula on the flight, or getting the formula once you arrive at your destination. Airlines sometimes waive baggage fees for medical supplies, so check if this is an option for your trip.

 

Tips for traveling with TPN

  • Just like at home, TPN must be kept refrigerated to ensure that the medication is safe to use.
  • To prevent spoilage, it is critical that TPN bags are packed in coolers as directed by your home care pharmacy and that the correct temperature is maintained during transportation. It is important to consult with your home care pharmacy on how to pack your TPN to ensure safe transportation, and to identify any additional supplies they recommend bringing with you.
  • Your healthcare provider may recommend things like a thermometer to monitor temperature during travel, specific coolers, and ice packs. It is important that you keep your TPN with you if you are traveling by air, as the underside of the plane may not support the temperature ranges needed to keep TPN safe to use.
  • Finally, remember that according to the ASPEN Guidelines, once TPN is compounded it is only stable for nine days(1). For trips longer than this, consult with your provider regarding shipping additional supplies. In recent years, there have been developments in more shelf stable PN that is more suited for longer travel. Discuss this option with your care team to see if it is an option for you.
  • For additional tips regarding travelling with TPN, visit Oley’s article titled “Have PN, Will Travel” at https://oley.org/page/Have_PN_Will_Travel

 

General tips for traveling by air

Regardless of the situation, all travelers must go through a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security screening upon arriving at the airport. To help make the screen process simple and smooth (for both CURLIN and Infinity pumps) we have compiled a list of tips for you to consider.

Pre-travel communications

  • It is important to communicate with both TSA and the airline you will be traveling with. TSA has a help line called “TSA Cares” that provides travelers with disabilities, medical conditions, and other special circumstances with additional assistance during the security screening process. TSA suggests reaching out to the TSA cares help line 72 hours prior to traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint. You may call (855) 787-2227 or submit an online form.
  • Additionally, you should also reach out to the airline you will be traveling with so that they can help accommodate any special needs you may have.

Working with TSA

  • Arriving early to the airport is critical to ensuring a smooth traveling experience, to be sure to arrive with plenty of time to go through security. The TSA recommends arriving at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight, though you may want to consider adding additional time depending on need.
  • TSA may ask you questions regarding your medication, equipment, or supplies. Explain to them your supplies are medically necessary and that you are on life-sustaining therapy. If the TSA screener asks you to open the bag to test your parenteral nutrition formula, you should notify the person that you are not able to open the formula because it is a sterile solution. The TSA does not require testing for sterile liquids.
  • You may need to explain your situation to multiple agents or multiple times. If you are on an infusion pump or enteral feeding pump, it is important to inform the TSA officer where it is located before the screening process begins. It is not necessary to remove a pump attached to your body when going through security. If your pump is attached to your body, the TSA agent will still inspect you and your device. This inspection will often include a pat-down and a test for explosive residue.
  • Additionally, if you travel frequently, you should consider applying for the TSA Pre✓®. This may help expedite your security screening.

 

For additional information, please see our customer letters about travelling with Moog pumps.

CURLIN Pumps:

 

Infinity Pumps:

 

(1) Mays A, Ayers P, Monczka J, Cober MP. Safety in parenteral nutrition compounding. Nutr Clin Pract. 2023; 38: 1253-1262. doi:10.1002/ncp.11064