How to check g tube placement if no residual

[ajl009]

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??

[Sun0408, ASN, RN]

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??

[ajl009]

I only pulled back once and allowed her to belch.

[anon456, BSN, RN]

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.

[casi, ASN, RN]

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.