GTube feeds at home

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

What method do all y'all teach for determining placement to patients going home with a GTube? I have a guy going home soon who has a trache and a gtube. He sails through trache care but is worried about the tube feeds. He barely reads so printed instructions or anything like that won't work.

I'm thinking KISS....just have him listen for the whoosh when he shoots some air in the tube....we did it that way for years.

Any ideas?

PS....he's going to be living in a boarding house

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

TBH, in all of my jobs that have involved sending kids home with G-tubes, we don't teach parents to check placement. With NG tubes, the exit point marker was noted and we told parents to call if the tube migrated but with MIC-Key buttons that kids get, we don't teach anything about checking placement.

[fsudmbRN, ASN]

I always use the check for placement using the "listen for the gurgle...."

[JoytoWorld]

Check placement on Gtube (G-gastric) by pull back by syringe for residual, note amt, then refeed to preserve electrolytes. Chart residuals to track.

Orders should indicate what residual amt to hold feeding (usually about 25 mL for ped and 50 mL for adult) wait half hour then recheck. If still up after 2 checks seek new instructions.

Residuals often increase when client digestion decreases due to oncoming infection or other compromise.

Vent Gtube before feed to release gas. Insert barrel of syringe and hold upward - gas rises. Needs only about 30 seconds to vent.

Do not check residuals on Jenunostomy tube (J tube) creates too much pressure.