Having trouble understanding the different types of NG tubes - page 2

1. 
   Jan 4, '13

   What we do for fun
   
   Glad to help. We remember (oh, god, so clearly...) what it was like to be young, inexperienced, and clueless. Later on when you have more experience and understanding, remember how it felt and you'll be able to explain better too.
2. 
   Jan 9, '13

   One thing to add-please be sure you know if meds can be placed into the tube. Many cannot, so you will need to alert MD if another route or another medication is required. Also, some meds are absorbed in the stomach, so they need to be administered via tubes that terminate in the stomach. A Dobb-Hoff (weighted tube) terminates in the duodenum, past the stomach. A majority of digitalis is aborbed in the stomach, so if the patient has a Dobb-Hoff they will not receive therapeutic levels of dig.
   
   So glad you are questioning this now!!
3. 
   Jan 11, '13

   Right-- so any tube that goes into the GI tract below the stomach-- Dobhoff, J-tube, etc.-- you need to remember this and be sure your physician orders are appropriate. Believe it or not, a lot of them don't remember that part when they say to continue oral meds via tube.
4. 
   Aug 17, '14

   Thank you all... so many little details are left out in formal education! So I have another question about an NG tube... the thinner tube (used for feeding & meds with the ko pump which I believe they called a "cortrak" at my last job - brand name). I had a patient with the NG tube who was NPO, it was only used for administering PO meds & was never connected to the pump. Does it matter which port I use to administer the meds knowing that it was never used for feeding/never hooked up to pump (no formula had ever been out into the lumen)
   
   I ask because gravity alone didn't do a whole lot, my preceptor showed me using a bulb syringe going through the main port typically for feeding. And I was wondering if there would be less resistance using the port designated for PO meds. In my last job, my experience was always with someone that had continuous feeding and I seem to recall the meds going down easier.
5. 
   Aug 17, '14

   Never put anything down the pigtail except air, that is "vent" if it does need to go to suction.
6. 
   Aug 17, '14

   Not talking about sump... The thin yellow tube for feeding & PO Meds used with the KO pump has two ports at the end.
7. 
   Aug 17, '14

   Best practice so it becomes habit would be use the port designated for meds 😃
8. 
   Aug 17, '14

   Thank you... that makes sense to me.
9. 
   Aug 18, '14

   Just to add...at my hospital (and I suspect others) only the ICU is allowed to give meds or tube feeds through an NGT unless specifically ordered by an MD, and this is usually on a one time order (like Tylenol). Small bore feeding tubes are inserted with ultrasound (Cor-Trak in our case) and used for feeds; we use these for patients who don't need a JT or GT long term but need tube feeds on a short term basis.
10. 
    Aug 20, '14

    I would just like to add that this is why it infuriates me when pts come from the ER with the blue port tied in a knot.
11. 
    Aug 20, '14

    I also recommend, if you know the name brand, to google their website. You will find education there for specific items.

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