Charcoal/NG tubes

[Sassy5d]

Haven't had to do this often.. Is there a method to make this easier? Do you mix with a little water and gravity or do you shake the tubes and just push it through?

[CodeteamB]

Haven't had to do this often.. Is there a method to make this easier? Do you mix with a little water and gravity or do you shake the tubes and just push it through?

Shake and shove

[Guest219794]

If time allows-

• Put tube in hot water for a bit.
  
• Shake vigorously.Cut bottom end off with trauma shears.
  
• Empty into graduated cylinder.
  
• Draw up with a 60 cc cath-tip syringe.
  
• Wear a gown or something to protect from spatter.
  

This may sound time consuming, but our charcoal is always gummy and gunked up. this actually results in faster delivery.

[Guest 360983]

Shake it like a Polaroid picture.

When possible, encourage the student to do this so you don't get sprayed.

If the patient is somewhat cooperative, honesty is a good policy. "Dude, this tastes terrible. Chug it down like you're at a frat party. The more you drink, the less likely it is that you'll need a tube jammed down your nose."

[Sassy5d]

Thank you! I heard several ways I didn't like the tube. I like instant gratification and it felt like I was just clogged tube up with tar.

[thelema13]

Down an NG tube? Make them taste that crap. Nothing like some taste-bud deterrent.

[Footballnut]

If I am using an NG tube I generally thin it a little with some water. The downside of doing that is that some of your pts cannot tolerate much extra volume and they will let you see the charcoal again. I administer with a cath tip syringe. The heating comment is also great. I was looking at that post and I am sure they meant for you to snip off the tip of the charcoal bottle, not your NG tube. Modifying a medical device generally inactivates any warranty or liability that a company may have with a product and transfers the liability to you.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

1. NEVER handle charcoal without wearing a gown.

2. Warm water or handling the tube in your warm hands for a few minutes helps tremendously.

3. Make this verbage work for you: "Dude - it's much easier to just chug it than go through having a tube inserted in your nose, a chest x-ray, yadda yadda ... drink up."

[Sassy5d]

Usually I would prefer they drink but that wasn't an option the other day.

Thanks for the tips! I will do graduated next time.

[mybrowneyedgirl, BSN, RN]

Never try to put it through and NG that is smaller than a 16 or you will find yourself buying new scrubs Happened to two coworkers of mine.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

Never try to put it through and NG that is smaller than a 16 or you will find yourself buying new scrubs Happened to two coworkers of mine.

Even a 16 is pushing it from my experience...

I shake that charcoal vigorously, have the pt drink it (unless the MD orders an NGT by default)...tell them it's better to just drink it all than to have a tube shoved down your nose...

[bjaeram]

Are most of you still using charcoal and if so when? We rarely do anymore. They say if you don't get it in in the first hour it does no good and even then it has little effect.