G-tube Flush

Ms.RN · May 27, 2009

We use a kangaroo syringe when flushing peg tube with water or giving medicine. I was told never to use syringe plunger to inject water or medication becuase if its injected too fast patient it will cause nause and patient can vomit and I've seen it. When the state surveyors are watching giving meds via peg tube, we are always to let it flow in by gravity, never use plunger which is frustrating when water wont flush when mixture of medication clogs the peg tube and it wont flush. But if we use plunger to inject anything into a peg tube we will be sited by the state. :redlight::redlight::redlight:

We flush peg tube with bolus of water. The order states to flush peg tube with 200cc of water q shift, and we pour 200cc of water.

gt4everpn, BSN, RN · May 27, 2009

Yes from what I've learned it is to be flushed by gravity esp when the state is there.. To be very honest I have 40 patients plus about 10 peg feeders and other things to do and I usually bolus or inject it because often it doesnt flow fast enough by gravity plus it prevents clogging. I have never had a patient aspirate or vomit when I inject it.. but I do realize that it may cause aspiration pnuemonia.

tothepointeLVN, LVN · May 27, 2009

I'm still new to nursing but I pull up with a plunger but then let it go by gravity but if it gets stuck then you already have the plunger in place. I have tiny hand shakes and splash water everywhere without the plunger in place. This was the way one instructor taought me but they are all different

CITCAT · May 27, 2009

In reply to the question of flush or not to flush flush is a flush piston syringe toclear to tube with warm water the patient has to be forty degrees up or they will aspirate, in regard to admin meds bolus meds one at a time that is the proper way to do it in my region Any takers?

Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN · May 27, 2009

I always use a syringe. I believe you need the extra "push" to make sure meds don't adhere to the sides and cause blockage. I also always use at least 100 cc of water, to make sure the g-tube is clear. I've never had a pt vomit while I did this. I have encountered block g-tubes because the nurse before did not flush it well after meds.

Freedom42 · May 27, 2009

I'm confused. I have a patient with a tube that is referred to by fellow nurses as peg tube or j tube, depending on who's talking. I'm not sure exactly what kind of tube it is.

Whatever it is, if I don't use a syringe to force a bolus of Gatorade down that tube, nothing's going down that tube. Gravity will not suffice, and no matter how carefully I give that bolus, some will overflow out of this tiny tube, anyway. (I believe it's a Kelly surgical tube.) The doctor's order stipulates that we are to flush the tube with 30 mL of free water before and after drugs or any bolus. It does not, however, say how those liquids are to be administered. All of the nurses use the syringe to push.

So is it incorrect to use the syringe in this manner?

SunnyAndrsn · May 27, 2009

We do flush, as the pt. we have uses Jevity at a low flow rate, and Jevity tends to clog the tube very easy. Therefore, we do the flush with warm water (and also do cola flushes 2x a week) to keep the tube patent. He needs flushes every four hours, and stills gets clogged if we're too late. Hate that darn Jevity, wish we could go back to the Fibersure.

SunnyAndrsn · May 27, 2009

I'm confused. I have a patient with a tube that is referred to by fellow nurses as peg tube or j tube, depending on who's talking. I'm not sure exactly what kind of tube it is.
Whatever it is, if I don't use a syringe to force a bolus of Gatorade down that tube, nothing's going down that tube. Gravity will not suffice, and no matter how carefully I give that bolus, some will overflow out of this tiny tube, anyway. (I believe it's a Kelly surgical tube.) The doctor's order stipulates that we are to flush the tube with 30 mL of free water before and after drugs or any bolus. It does not, however, say how those liquids are to be administered. All of the nurses use the syringe to push.
So is it incorrect to use the syringe in this manner?

My other pt. has a G-J tube, with one port in his stomach, the other in the jejunum. I use syringes to push his medications, as gravity would not work--this is per the MD's orders.

Sonia,RN · May 27, 2009

I have always used the syringe and plunger and have never had a problem, except in special cases where the Gtube already leaked around the site; then I would use gravity.

Freedom42 · May 27, 2009

Now I wonder if I should ask the doctor to stipulate in her order that the bolus can be forced instead of given by gravity. There's been no discussion at our facility that I'm aware of regarding force being subject to state citation.

RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN · May 27, 2009

I'm confused. I have a patient with a tube that is referred to by fellow nurses as peg tube or j tube, depending on who's talking. I'm not sure exactly what kind of tube it is.
Whatever it is, if I don't use a syringe to force a bolus of Gatorade down that tube, nothing's going down that tube. Gravity will not suffice, and no matter how carefully I give that bolus, some will overflow out of this tiny tube, anyway. (I believe it's a Kelly surgical tube.) The doctor's order stipulates that we are to flush the tube with 30 mL of free water before and after drugs or any bolus. It does not, however, say how those liquids are to be administered. All of the nurses use the syringe to push.
So is it incorrect to use the syringe in this manner?

Maybe it's not going in because the patient has too much residual.

Are you checking for residual before you force anything?

I always let flow by gravity, if it will. I feel like I'll cause my patient

to have gas if I use the syringe. I always check residual, then unhook the

syringe from peg, remove plunger, replace syringe to peg.