feeding tubes as foley catheters for infants

[hellolhj]

I'm a studnet nurse; I'm preparing presentation about EBP-Foley Insertion.

According to one study done in 1998, both the literature and the sampled hospital policies most often recommended using feeding tubes for newborns.

I wonder if feeding tubes are still used as indwelling catheters in the hospitals; if yes, please commnet on advantages or disadvantages.

[bagladyrn, RN]

Feeding tubes aren't used as indwelling catheters, but rather as "in and out" catheters - as in to obtain urine samples..

[rockabye]

It could work as long as it still stays sterile and the foley catheters are too large. It is common in my unit to use umbilical catheters (2.5 - 5 french) for the micro-premies. I think our smallest foley catheters are 6 french in size. Our smallest feeding tubes are 6.5 french so that's why we don't use feeding tubes.

[bagladyrn, RN]

And in a "regular" nursery as opposed to a NICU they are unlikely to keep a stock of those specialized sizes, etc. that are kept in the NICU, so for those rare needs will adapt what is available.

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

You can in a pinch, but we use Uri-Cath sets that come in 3.5, 5, 6 and 8 french. You can't leave a feeding tube or UAC indwelling...that is off label use and is usually frowned on by risk management, at least in our hospital it is. The other problem is with using a feeding tube or UAC, you have to rig up a set to use as your collection system and still keep it sterile.

In our unit, if it is too small for the smallest cath, then that hole isnt' meant to have something in it (lol) and all you are going to do is cause trauma.