How to check g tube placement if no residual

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When checking the g tube placement of a patient (who has had g tube for years) I was only able to obtain air. G tube looked intact so I sat her up and she began belching. She was distended and uncomfortable so I gave her some omeprazole before starting feelings for the night. My shift was uneventful thereafter. Should I not have initiated feelings when only air was being obtained??

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

Sometimes I have found after expelling many syringes full of air, I start to get residual. Did you pull back on the syringe once or did you keep going??

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I only pulled back once and allowed her to belch.

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We generally do not check placement of well established g-tubes. Only if they are new. We do check placement of NG tubes regularly by testing pH.

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Specializes in LTC.

I work in LTC and it's our policy if no residual/gastric content aspirated to instill 5-10ml of air into tube and auscultate for placement.

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