How to Hang a Tube Feeding in a Crib?

[mgturtle]

Many of our patients in cribs require bolus tube feedings. I have not found any good way to hang and secure a syringe attached to a feeding tube in a crib. We have devices that attach to our open warmers and isolettes that we can secure the syringe to, but we do not have anything for a crib. Is anyone aware of a device or does anyone use something that attaches to a crib that you can secure and hang a syringe to for a tube feeding?

[WSU_Ally_RN, BSN, RN]

in the nicu i float to, they just tape the syringe to the shelf above the crib... it might not be perfect, but it works!

[umcRN, BSN, RN]

we dont gravity anything byt trophic feeds...generally 10cc or less, everything else usually goes on a pump. If you need to hang it could you attach it to an IV pole somehow?

[prmenrs, RN]

I've taped them to IV poles, but I really prefer pumping--more control on the speed of the feeding. Never have liked gravity feeds much.

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

We used to tape them to the side of the crib, but when we changed feeding tubes, this just didn't work anymore, they were slightly shorter and had a slower flow rate.

A couple of years ago our unit acquired a device called a GSRD (gavage syringe restraining device). It fits easily under the crib mattress. I will include a link so you can see the pictures because I can't describe it nearly as well.

It is suggested one use a posey wrap (like we use over pulse ox probes) to wrap around the syringe. I find there is far too little play on the tube that way and I choose to add one or two rubber bands to the posey allowing the infant to turn their head without ripping off the tape or accidentally pulling the tube out. The posey by itself would be great if the infant promised to lie perfectly still.

http://gsrd.us.com/products/little-helper/

[nicu4me]

Hi, may not be what you are thinking about but say for our GT drip feeds we use oxygen tubing stretched across the open crib and then use a wrist restraint around the syringe and hang it that way from the O2 tubing

[NeoPediRN]

You could hang it like a Murphy gtt. String a twill tie tightly from the top of the head of the crib down to the foot, then wrap a piece around the top of the catheter tipped syringe....then use a y site extension to connect from the syringe to the NG or G/J tube. Works well

[nicurn09]

I always just tape a tongue depressor to the side of the crib with it sticking up from the top and put a rubber band around the tongue depressor and the feeding syringe.

[IttyBittyBabyRN]

I do the tongue depressor thing if they are in a small crib. If in the large metal crib, we usually string rubber bands together to stretch diagonally across the crib and hang the syringe from a couple in the middle. Really high tech :):)