Unclogging a g-tube

Nurses General Nursing

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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...

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I have seen a few G-tubes unclogged with Coke and it worked everytime!!

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yup coca cola it is :)

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Specializes in CNA.

Step 1: Insert a 60 cc syringe into the end of the feeding tube. Pull the plunger back to suction the clog out of the feeding tube. If this does not work, go to the next step. Step 2: Fill a cup with warm water. Add a feeding tube unclogging medication to the water if one has been prescribed by your doctor. Put the end of the syringe into the cup and pull the plunger back to draw the water up into the syringe. Completely fill the syringe with warm water. Insert the syringe into the end of the feeding tube. Push the plunger in gently to release the warm water into the feeding tube and to flush out the clog. Avoid forcing the water into the tube. If the warm water does not remove the clog, get medical assistance from a doctor or at the emergency room. Prevent future clogs in the feeding tube by using a syringe to flush warm water through the feeding tube before and after every feeding. Ask a doctor for a recommendation on the proper amount of water to use for regular G-tube flushing.

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Specializes in Sub Acute Rehab/ Oncology Med-Surg.

Coke, ginger ale.. flushing with cranberry juice once in awhile to keep it going.

i encountered a nurse's who held the gtube at the base (by the stoma) and milking the contents towards the opening of the tube. this way isn't all that safe, you can accidentally pull the tube out.

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Specializes in Med Surg-Geriatrics.

Nowadays there is a little device called a de-clogger (thats what we call it) a long plastic stem looking thingy that you insert into the GT works everytime!

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Specializes in Med Surg-Geriatrics.

Oh yes routine flushing works wonders...

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Specializes in Psych, Skilled Nursing.
NurseNinaFla said:
Nowadays there is a little device called a de-clogger (thats what we call it) a long plastic stem looking thingy that you insert into the GT works everytime!

this is what we use in our facility

if the clog is hard to remove, I try to milk the tube first then use the de-clogger and flush with water.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Peds, Pediatraic Home Care, Infusion.
trujrzygirl said:
Step 1: Insert a 60 cc syringe into the end of the feeding tube. Pull the plunger back to suction the clog out of the feeding tube. If this does not work, go to the next step. Step 2: Fill a cup with warm water. Add a feeding tube unclogging medication to the water if one has been prescribed by your doctor. Put the end of the syringe into the cup and pull the plunger back to draw the water up into the syringe. Completely fill the syringe with warm water. Insert the syringe into the end of the feeding tube. Push the plunger in gently to release the warm water into the feeding tube and to flush out the clog. Avoid forcing the water into the tube. If the warm water does not remove the clog, get medical assistance from a doctor or at the emergency room. Prevent future clogs in the feeding tube by using a syringe to flush warm water through the feeding tube before and after every feeding. Ask a doctor for a recommendation on the proper amount of water to use for regular G-tube flushing.

Wow, you work with doctors who know how much to flush a G-tube and the care of a G-tube! Wow.

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Specializes in ER.
trujrzygirl said:
Step 1: Insert a 60 cc syringe into the end of the feeding tube. Pull the plunger back to suction the clog out of the feeding tube. If this does not work, go to the next step. Step 2: Fill a cup with warm water. Add a feeding tube unclogging medication to the water if one has been prescribed by your doctor. Put the end of the syringe into the cup and pull the plunger back to draw the water up into the syringe. Completely fill the syringe with warm water. Insert the syringe into the end of the feeding tube. Push the plunger in gently to release the warm water into the feeding tube and to flush out the clog. Avoid forcing the water into the tube. If the warm water does not remove the clog, get medical assistance from a doctor or at the emergency room. Prevent future clogs in the feeding tube by using a syringe to flush warm water through the feeding tube before and after every feeding. Ask a doctor for a recommendation on the proper amount of water to use for regular G-tube flushing.

It looks like you are a CNA. CNAs should never be attempting to unclog a G-tube. Please do not ever do this.

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Specializes in Sub Acute Rehab/ Oncology Med-Surg.
DesertwindRN said:
Wow, you work with doctors who know how much to flush a G-tube and the care of a G-tube! Wow.

i googled "how to unclog a gtube" and those steps are at this website http://www.ehow.com/how_5135339_unclog-gtube-feeding-tube.html the website gives instructions for home care use.

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Specializes in TELEMETRY.

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....

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