G/J tube

Specialties Gastroenterology

Published

I need HELP!!!! Came to work this weekend on my rehab unit. Haven't been there in a week. New pt. with a G/J tube. The J part is attached to straight drainage. No one knew what to do with this thing! No Dr orders, nothing on the TAR, nothing in her hospital records ( except for her tube feeding orders). Instructions on her arm were to " leave the clamp open at all times". The 11- 7 nurse said that she had 25cc output. She couldn't tell me anything, and the other nurse I was working with could tell me nothing. My supervisor knew nothing. The covering Dr knew nothing,We called the regular day nurse at home. All SHE knew was to keep the clamp open at all times! The resident rightfully was a little concerned that noone knew what to do with this. I had a few concerns, she had an output of 150cc, but I was expecting bile, it was a pale " cream of chicken soup" color ( sorry). I am thinking that she is loosing her feeding through this tube. I go back to work on Wed. and would like some knowledge about these things. I left a big note for my RCC and the Dr asking them to clarify WHAT has to be done with it.Come to find out, this lady has been on the unit for 5 days already!

Any one know anything about theses tubes? Wouls really appreciate some input!

Thanks!

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I need HELP!!!! Came to work this weekend on my rehab unit. Haven't been there in a week. New pt. with a G/J tube. The J part is attached to straight drainage. No one knew what to do with this thing! No Dr orders, nothing on the TAR, nothing in her hospital records ( except for her tube feeding orders). Instructions on her arm were to " leave the clamp open at all times". The 11- 7 nurse said that she had 25cc output. She couldn't tell me anything, and the other nurse I was working with could tell me nothing. My supervisor knew nothing. The covering Dr knew nothing,We called the regular day nurse at home. All SHE knew was to keep the clamp open at all times! The resident rightfully was a little concerned that noone knew what to do with this. I had a few concerns, she had an output of 150cc, but I was expecting bile, it was a pale " cream of chicken soup" color ( sorry). I am thinking that she is loosing her feeding through this tube. I go back to work on Wed. and would like some knowledge about these things. I left a big note for my RCC and the Dr asking them to clarify WHAT has to be done with it.Come to find out, this lady has been on the unit for 5 days already!

Any one know anything about theses tubes? Wouls really appreciate some input!

Thanks!

It sounds like they have it backwards. Usually you leave the G part open to decompress the stomach and feed through the J part. What you are probably seeing is the feeds going from the stomach and draining out the J part. I would definitely find out what they want.

Here is a nice sheet for the GJ tube. If you look at the picture on the upper right you can see what is happening:

http://wishard.kramesonline.com/HealthSheets/3,S,89589

David Carpenter, PA-C

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What a great hand-out! Thank you, David!

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Specializes in ICU, med/surg.

That was my first thought too! core0 is right....feed through J, decompress through G. It must be sucking out tube feed as it tries to pass through the jejunum.

J goes to jejunum

G goes to stomach

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Specializes in ED/ICU/TELEMETRY/LTC.

I can't get the handout to load, but this is very interesting. I need to know this for future reference.

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