Unclogging a g-tube

[KatieNoelLPN]

How do you unclog a g-tube? I haven't had a pt with a clogged g-tube in a long time and can't remember what we did to unclog them. It seems like Coke was involved...

[Altra, BSN, RN]

wised said:

Nutrition support RD here. You should never unclog a feeding tube with any liquid that has syrup or sugars. Will only continue to promote more clogging.

Avoiding those would exclude many of the things that go down a g-tube: tube feeds, liquid meds, radiopaque contrast media, etc.

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

nursynurseRN said:

OMG! I just experienced something called CLOG ZAPPER! it de-clogs GT's!!!!!!!!!! I think this its great!! takes about an hour to work and then the GT flushes like new....

Where is Billy Mays when you need him???

He is? Oh. Sorry. Miss ya Billy!

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

txspadequeenrn said:

i have always put coke in my tubes and let it sit there for about 15-30 min...works every time...

what about diet coke.....and mentos?

[Altra, BSN, RN]

MN-Nurse said:

What about Diet Coke.....and Mentos?

:rotfl:

But ... no. Just no.

[babysteps25]

I know this is an old thread, but I was wondering what you do if an NG tube won't flush but there is no visible clog in the external part of the tubing, so the clog is in a part of the tube that is in the patient's body. Is there any way to fix that?

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

babysteps25 said:

I know this is an old thread, but I was wondering what you do if an NG tube won't flush but there is no visible clog in the external part of the tubing, so the clog is in a part of the tube that is in the patient's body. Is there any way to fix that?

You need to check with the MD on that one. G-tubes get clogged from improper flushing (or no flushing). You need to be sure that enough free water is being used, that the meds and the feed is flushed well. If it is clogged somewhere that you can not see, it is a complication that needs to be looked at by the doctor to determine if the tube has become dislodged, crimped somewhere.....could be many things. Look to the MD for direction at this point.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

jadelpn said:

You need to check with the MD on that one. G-tubes get clogged from improper flushing (or no flushing). You need to be sure that enough free water is being used, that the meds and the feed is flushed well. If it is clogged somewhere that you can not see, it is a complication that needs to be looked at by the doctor to determine if the tube has become dislodged, crimped somewhere.....could be many things. Look to the MD for direction at this point.

and make sure the meds are well crushed! and make sure you are using crushable meds...no ER/DR preparations or potassium (make sure you get the liquid elixer ordered instead)!

As for unclogging a tube, Coke works. I had a tube where coke didn't really work, though. I had the help of another RN to hold the tube in place that I wouldn't dislodge it...I had to use a combination of pumping a syringe back and milking the tube to get this huge mass of clogged stuff out of a tube. Flushed like a dream afterwards, though!

[bubblejet50]

Another trick ive learned is putting coffee down the tube. Works like a charm. My boss told me about this one day and it really did work when coke didnt