Foley cath as g tube?

[organicnurse24]

My resident's g tube came out, and the hospital replaced it with a foley cath. I'm told this is common, although I've been a nurse for 4 years and never seen in. My resident is on cyclic g tube feedings. But the foley has no cap or clamp, so if I disconnect him from the tube feed, everything leaks out of the tube! Any suggestions?

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

We also use foleys in place of a g tube to keep the insertion site open until a new g tube can be inserted, even if just a few minutes.

Once you remove a g tube, the opening will begin to close, especially if the patient already has a lot of scar tissue.

[bebbercorn]

Every ER I worked at I never dc'd a pt with the foley in place. 9 times out of ten Doc can get a new g tube in, ensure placement and get them out. If they simply can't get it, the pt waits for the specialist. I'd feel weird about sending a pt out with just the foley cath in place.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

I have seen them used as temporary place holders.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I've only seen then as temp. place holders. It is important to keep the site open, but I don't know of any GI's in our area that leave them in long term. From posts in this thread it seems different MD's use them as a more long term solution. I would call the PCP and see what their orders are.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

Oh she was going to have to follow up with GI to get a new G tube in.

[dah doh, BSN, RN]

I've seen foleys as G-tubes for years. Some are temporary and some are long term. We use Lopez valves or special plugs to clamp them so they don't leak.

[Junebug903, LPN]

Very common, until a replacement can be made. I work in LTC/SNF/Rehab. Either, we don't have the size needed to replace at the moment or its a J-tube and need an auth and/or doctor's signature to send out for procedure.

[mago8388]

The Cath is put in place so that the stoma does not shut close. Patient needs to be scheduled asap to replace the tube. Now is it just a G tube or a J or GJ? Usually G tubes you can just pop right in like a button and inflate the balloon. A GJ or J has to be done by a surgeon. The Cath thing is also done when trachs come off and the smaller size trach can't be inserted to keep the airway patent.

[LockportRN]

We used foleys long term for our g tube folks, years at a time without any issues. In fact the pediatric GI surgeon who did most of our clients initial g tube placements recommended using foleys as a cost saving for long term g tube folks. We used a Lopez valve to close it off when not receiving a feeding or medications. It works great for this purpose.

Same with LTC. Unless there is a special GT, if one comes out, it usually gets replaced with a foley and Lopez valve. Never had a problem unless there was a nurse that did not do this quickly enough and the hole closed. Even if there is a special or sewn in GT, the foley holds the hole open, allows us to give food, fluids and meds until arrangements can be made for the proper tube to be inserted.

[StrawberryEssence81]

I've used them for a temp replacement for a gtube. I work in ltc.

[tlawless1972]

Loosly knot the to let making sure not to pull on it.