NG Tube Leaking, Tips?

opensesame · Oct 11, 2010

You could cap the vent off. You will want to make sure this is okay according to your facility's policy. Some places I have worked this is done all the time, others say it is a big no-no. FWIW, there is little plug that is specifically meant to fit into the vents of the salem sumps.

If your facility won't let you do this, I have seen people put a glove over the end to catch the drips, put a chux down, a washcloth, whatever works. It's an annoying problem for sure.

mskate · Oct 12, 2010

There are anti-reflux valves that are made for just that purpose. Some doc's don't like them because they say that it messes up the sumping action, others will tell you that the vents on the valve fix that problem.

If you dont have the valves/the md doesn't like it - you can always put the tip in a glove, wrap the glove in a towel and check on it frequently...

Another solution is to simply push some air into the vented, open port on the NGT, that can fix the sumping action and fix the leak sometimes. :)

FlyingScot, RN · Oct 12, 2010

Is the tube to intermittent or continuous suction? If it is a Salem Sump tube it is recommended to be to low continuous suction. I've find leaky tubes are usually to intermittent which allows fluid to back up the vent tube. Levine tubes should be to low intermittent because they are not vented.

wooh, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2010

I've never worked anywhere that it was easy to find those little vents, so I've always just wrapped them loosely in a towel.

scoochy · Oct 12, 2010

Take a specimen cup (urine spec cup is best), cut a hole in the cover; insert the venting port, and voila, you have a collection container..............

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Oct 12, 2010

Keep the vent and the sucking end of the tube above stomach level. Use a safety pin on the johnny. Fluid will go out one and air out the other.

KSU-SN · Oct 12, 2010

our surgeons get furious if we cap the vent of a NG tube because they say that air needs to be able to get in and out so we take little baby bottles and cut a hole in the nipple big enough to fit the vent through and it serves as a really good collection container. But if you dont have access to baby bottles specimen collection cups would work too.

kdanilowicz · Jan 10, 2013

Hi,
I'm a new grad and I've been working on a surgical floor for about 3 months. I've noticed that it's a reasonably common problem to have leaking from NGT from the vent, and I'm not really sure what to do about it. Flushing, changing connector pieces, etc don't seem to do much good, does anyone have any ideas?

We use the "Bard" brand of nasogastric tubes (you can google it). They have a luer lock air vent with a filter at the tip, which also has a plug attached to it for when we disconnect our patients from the wall suction to ambulate. We never have a problem that I have seen of the vent or the ngt leaking.

Delilahdj · May 23, 2016

A wonderful surgeon explained the nasogastric tube this way: a singing ng tube is a happy ng tube. In other words, the ng tube when functioning properly will make a whistling sound. It should never be leaking if working properly. The intermittent setting was for tubes without the vent to make the tube let go from the stomach wall. Since there is a vent, the settings should really be continuous medium setting. Air to the vent water 20-30 cc unless contraindicated to the main tube should get it flowing .

~PedsRN~, BSN, RN · May 23, 2016

I'm in peds, a newborn diaper is a perfect speci trap. :)

hunter72 · Jun 25, 2018

The paper filter on the blue port must have gotten wet. Try opening another Salem sump tube and replacing the filter port. Instill 10cc of air into the blue port, place the filter in the blue port, remember, blue to blue, and place back on low intermittent suction. This should solve the problem. This usually happens a lot while patients are being tube fed and improper use of the tube. In the filter is a piece of paper and when it gets wet, it is no good and will stop working and can only be fixed by replacing the filter.