Peg tube residual

[EJSRN]

Hello All,

I had a pt. tonight with a peg tube and nutren pulmonary running continuously at 60cc/hr. When the residual was checked it was 300cc. I turned the kangaroo pump off and notified the MD. Now i was taught in school that you should always replace the residual that you pull out because the digestion process has already begun and your body has already broken the nutrients down and what not. The charge nurse said "absolutely not" you should always discard a residual that is that great. I talked to a few older nurses as well, and they agreed. I talked to a couple newer nurses and they also said that you should replace the residual. I dont know if this is a new thing or I just got it wrong in school, but it would make sense to me to replace it. The charge then called the doc and he told her it was fine to discard the residual. Which is fine because that is an order. If anyone has advice it would be helpful.

thanks.

[EJSRN, BSN, RN]

We were taught to give it back, no matter the amount, and recheck in 4 hours. If you don't give it back, what is the point in rechecking?

http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/surgery/trauma/Protocols/SCCGRV.pdf

As was I, and I am being told that I need to "think outside the box". Well I am and sometimes research shows that other ways are more beneficial. Some nurses need to realize that things change.

[leslie :-D]

As was I, and I am being told that I need to "think outside the box". Well I am and sometimes research shows that other ways are more beneficial. Some nurses need to realize that things change.

very true.

just like some things require common sense, and not even critical thinking.

and some things, do not correlate with what we learned in a book.

that's why experience is so embraced.

leslie