I have been reading about this tube. It says to use a certain port for meds and a different port for feedings. Are these ports marked meds only or feedings only or are they color-coded? I am new to home care. Thanks so much.

No, they are not color coded nor are they marked "meds" or "feedings". Actually, the port for meds is significantly smaller than the feeding tube port. The med port is on the side and is about the diameter of the tip on a 3cc syringe. You cant miss it Its made for meds only.

Good luck with home health!!!

My son had a MIC-key button for 4 years. The kit comes with a syringe that is a perfect fit for the hole in the g-tube (where you would insert the feeding tube). So you can put the medicine directly into the stomach and "chase" it with a tiny bit of water so that you are sure none of it stays in the stem. None of the other syringes we had around here would fit that opening except that one. But if the feeding pump (or tube) is hooked up, there is a tiny port off to the side of the end of the feeding tube that you can open (clamp the tube first, ha ha, made that mistake a time or two) and insert the medicine syringe and the medicine will go into the stomach during the feeding.

Thanks all so much. I had been reading different books and they all said the same thing. "Be sure to use the right ports for feeding and meds" and that's all the information I could find. Your info is so much better.

I'm confused by what you're reading, Mic-key feeding tubes don't have more than one ports (or lumens).

They have a valve on the side for the balloon and a hole in the center for connecting the access tubes.

http://www.mic-key.com/index.asp?page=product

That's a great site for tubes!!!! Thanks so much:yeah:

Yes, the hole in the center of the "button" (g-tube) is where you can insert the syringe that comes with the kit if you just need to give a dose of medicine. This is the same hole where you attach the feeding tube. The feeding tube has a larger port for feeds and a smaller port is on the end also, to add medicine during a feed. The button and tube are two different things. What you referred to as the access tube (also called an extension) is what has two ports.

Often, they come with 2 extension sets- one for pump feedings and meds and one wide tube for venting, gravity bolus feedings, or a larger volume of meds (fits a toomey syringe) The thinner extesion with two ports fits a set or toomey on the large port and fits on oral or regular luer-slip syringe in the side port. I've gone to homes where luer-lock syringes were found (shouldn't be, but are) and fyi, those fit into the main port. I use that set to give meds with a toomey or 20 or 30 ml luer-lock syringe on the main port at the same time that I have the med syringe on the med port to flush meds as I switch syringes. KWIM?

Tip- when your extension is disconnected to clean- rinse with soapy water (or your protocol) then take the blunt side of a butter knife or a spoon handle and run it along the tube like you were trying to curl ribbon. Once or twice (gently) and you won't believe the extra goo that you'll see come free. I've already used the attached clamp to "run" the adhered gunk out of the tube.

FYI about flushing directly into the key hole on the button. Mic recommends that you do not do this. Have I? Ummmm... well.... yes... Ever had trouble doing it? No, actually. If I'm in a home where insurance and money is tight and you never have enough supplies... I'd try not to. If I remember correctly (it's been a while since I've handled one) the Bard buttons cannot be used in this manner. Be sure you know what brand you have before you try.

Ok, here's where some confusion may be coming in.

You can have a g-tube that's a tube sticking out of the stomach. That of course goes to the stomach. There will also be a port for the balloon holding it in place.

You can have a G-J tube that's a tube sticking out of the stomach. There will be a port to the stomach, to the jejunem, and a port for the balloon holding it all in place. (Be sure not to spin these around. :) )

I'd suppose you could also have a J tube that's a tube sticking out of the stomach, can't recall seeing that, but I'm sure it's around somewhere.

Then you have the MIC-KEY. It's a button.

You might have a G button, that has a port for the balloon, and a port that you can click into with a special syringe, or with a tube to hook up to feeds or meds. If it's a MIC-KEY G button, you're only choices will be to the balloon or to the stomach.

You can also have a MIC-KEY GJ button. It will have a port for the balloon. And then it will have where you can click into the stomach and a spot to click into the jejunem. (Don't spin these around either. :) ) With the GJ, that's when you'll often use one port for meds, and one port for feeds. Rule of thumb, when in doubt, meds go into the G (stomach) and feeds go into the J (jejunem.) Sometimes you'll do some free water into the G or the J. Generally it's something that you'll get clarified as to what goes where, but like I said, feeds generally go into J, meds into G. The ports are often labeled, gastro and jejunem where you click into them. One will be on the side and one on top. I used to always see the gastro on top, but lately it seems to be jejunum on top. Generally your patient or caregiver will know if it's not labeled.

Thanks all. You are all so very kind.:redpinkhe Thanks so much for your help. I think I am really starting to understand about these different tubes now.