Clogged feeding tubes

Nurses General Nursing

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Does anyone have any tips on how to clear clogged feeding tubes? Almost everytime I come on the floor the feeding tubes are clogged!! Any easy to unclog them?

Specializes in LTC.
use a small syringe (10cc) filled with most any liquid. i will plunge the syringe until you break loose the clog. be careful though, if you do not have a good seal, you will spray yourself or your patient with liquid grossness.

That happened to me once. I gave a patient meds.. after the water flush i took the syringe out of the tube and "liquid grossness" was everywhere. The patient doesn't speak words but after I got everything together she started giggling. lol It was just a gown change didn't get on her sheets or blankets.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I've always found warm gingerale works best. I've always been alittle afraid to force the clog out, this wont hurt the patient or tube?

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Where I worked one time I was advised to insert something, like a 6" sterile swab stick if coke or warm water didn't work. But I was also warned that there could be a big, big problem if it broke off inside and I couldn't retrieve it or it perforated the tube. I was always glad when, at the last minute, it unclogged, before I started looking around for something to stick down the tube. :o

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^^^ I have used the stick end of a sterile swab before with good results. I would agree it's important to be very careful not to break it, & certainly would not recommend it for those ridiculous tiny bore catheters people sometimes have. (of course those are the ones always getting clogged!!)

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Specializes in LTC, SCI/TBI Rehab,RX Research, Psych.

Have your ward clerk or Central Supply person order you some "G-Tube Decloggers".

Seriously---that's what they're called...they're long, flexible 'probes' that you insert into the lumen of the G-Tube to "Roto-Rooter" the clog loose.

They're AWESOME--and totally safe.

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Have your ward clerk or Central Supply person order you some "G-Tube Decloggers".

Seriously---that's what they're called...they're long, flexible 'probes' that you insert into the lumen of the G-Tube to "Roto-Rooter" the clog loose.

They're AWESOME--and totally safe.

Do you know off-hand if these are available to the public? I have home health clients who could benefit from having one of these on-hand, not that I'm one of those people who doesn't flush like they are supposed to.

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Do you know off-hand if these are available to the public? I have home health clients who could benefit from having one of these on-hand, not that I'm one of those people who doesn't flush like they are supposed to.

Never mind. Just did an internet search and several links came up. The first one I went to had a box of 10 for sale for $87 and some change, regular price $223 and some change. For $223 I think I would find something else! :eek:

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Specializes in Hem/Onc/BMT.

Strangely, I rarely had success with sodas.

I just rely on some warm water, milking the tube, plunging in and out. Not too much force, but gentle repetition is the key. In and out, in and out,... eventually oh the satisfying whoosh!

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Specializes in ER, Step-Down.
I'm gonna say Coke since I don't already see it mentioned:D

Seriously though, Diet Coke. Be careful... I have seen a nurse take a coke/feeding bath before...

....last week... diet ginger ale... allllllll over my scrubs. :o but, I got that stubborn tube open! I just the rapid push/pull "agitation" with the plunger. Works for me. :)

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Specializes in LTC, New to Tele/ Cardiac!.

If warm coke/ gingerale/ cran juice doesn't work, milking the tube is almost a sure-fire way to get it unclogged. (I learned this when working at a LTC from an older nurse. I'm not sure if this practice is still approved of, but as long as you make sure to always keep one hand very close to the GT insertion site, as to not pull the tube out, I don't see a problem with it!) It's worked everytime for me. Just keep some nice towels under the tube so when you milk, all the tube feed gunk goes on the towel and not on you or the bed!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ENT/Plastics, College Health.

At my hospital we use evidence based practice which recommends flushing with 30cc of warm water first and then using 1 pancreatic enzyme and 325mg sodium bicarbonate tablet mixed with 50cc warm water until dissolved and inject into tube and clamp and then flush through with warm water. I also palpate the tube to see if I can feel the obstruction and loosen it. Acidic beverages such as cola or cranberry juice is considered controversial in that such beverages may denature proteins within the feeding formula, therefore contributing to clogging

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Specializes in multispecialty ICU, SICU including CV.
At my hospital we use evidence based practice which recommends flushing with 30cc of warm water first and then using 1 pancreatic enzyme and 325mg sodium bicarbonate tablet mixed with 50cc warm water until dissolved and inject into tube and clamp and then flush through with warm water. I also palpate the tube to see if I can feel the obstruction and loosen it. Acidic beverages such as cola or cranberry juice is considered controversial in that such beverages may denature proteins within the feeding formula, therefore contributing to clogging

This is great info. Do you happen to know the article? I would love to read it.

This is pretty much what we do as a last resort now (we use 2 enzymes and 650 bicarb though), but I think from now on I am going to skip the attempts with coke, etc. if this is indeed true.

Super exciting! (I am seriously thrilled to know this. I am such a dork.)

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