I/O calculation

[tokidokifantasy]

I am a bit confused, can someone help me here.

When we calculate I/O of nasogastric content after suction, do we add the residual amount as output if we take it out? do we add the residual amount as input if we put it back? so confused! thanks for your help.

[Mike R, ADN, BSN, RN]

Count residual as output, yes. Do not count as intake if you put it back in. That would be double counting. If you give Mr. Smith 250ml of fluids, and you suction it out to only put it back in, why would you add it again? You would end up with 500ml from only 250ml of fluids.

Hope that makes sense.

[MunoRN, RN]

If the patient has an excessive amount of residual with tube feed, then you shouldn't put it back and you should subtract that from your TF intake. You shouldn't add the residual to your intake total if have already counted it as having gone in. If you pull it out then put it right back in, it's essentially null in terms of intake/output balance.

[ckh23, BSN, RN]

Count as output if you waste the residual. Do not count as input if returned.