Pediatric "Venting"-Gastric Decompression- Procedure Questions

[itnursingguy]

If anyone has experience in pediatrics with G-buttons and G-tubes, and experience performing gastric decompression (venting) prior to bolus and continuous feedings using either the traditional syringe method or the Farrell valve bag, please weigh-in on the questions below. Thank you.

Syringe Method:

1) Do you feel the syringe method takes a long time to perform?

2) Do you ever experience gastric fluid coming out of the syringe and spilling on you, your clothing, or other surroundings (i.e.- the bed)?

3) Would you prefer to use a closed system that prevents any fluid from spilling on you?

4) Since the syringe method is an open technique, are you ever concerned about disease causing agents (bacteria, viruses, etc...) getting into the syringe and traveling back up into the child?

5) When performing the syringe method, do you use two hands to perform the procedure?

6) When using two hands, do you feel like you are pulling” on the G-button/G-tube?

Farrell Bag:

7) Do you find that using a Farrell bag is effective in removing gas?

8) Do you find that the Farrell bag is collecting some of the residual (formula, gastric fluids, etc...)?

9) If yes, do you find it difficult to remove this fluid from the bag and introduce it back into the child?

10) Are you frequently placing the Farrell bag at a lower height (chair, stool, floor, etc...) than the child in order for it to vent the gas properly?

11) If yes, what are your concerns with this approach?

General Questions:

12) Would you prefer a device that functions like the syringe, but allows your hands to be free during the procedure?

13) Would having your hands free allow you to focus more on the child during this procedure?

14) If there was a device that allowed you to perform the venting” procedure, without the issues of the current methods, would you be willing to pay slightly more/have the DME company pay slightly more for this device?

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Quick question for you: What are you selling? Because that is a LOT of questions to expect people on an anonymous internet board to answer.

[itnursingguy]

Hi,

I am not "selling" anything. I am actually working on a research report for one of my classes in IT (an elective class on Entrepreneurship). I had to pick a market and a problem in that market (as a former pedi nurse, I chose a problem that I had experienced), and come up with a solution to the problem, market need report, and willingness of individuals in the market to pay slightly more for the product I come up with. Basically, the ultimate goal of the project is to create an executive summary. I do not have the "product" figured out yet, but am trying to get a gauge of how many other nurses with a Pedi background experienced the same issues (with using a syringe and Farrell bags) that I did when I worked in the home environment.

Thank you.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Perhaps if you sought site approval for student research and created a survey such as survey monkey instead of an extensive list of questions you would get more response. (There is a thread with a link to submit research requests to site admin I think in the how to section )

This way you posted this it looks like a manufacturer looking for free market research as opposed to an innovative student.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Read this thread regarding permission to post academic research requests in the forums:

https://allnurses.com/post-graduate-nursing/academic-nursing-research-898126.html

[itnursingguy]

Thank you. I will check it out.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Pop the plunger out of a cath tip syringe, hook it up to the extension tubing, unclamp and let the gas flow. There's nothing time consuming about it, it literally takes seconds.

I hate Farrell bags.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Pop the plunger out of a cath tip syringe, hook it up to the extension tubing, unclamp and let the gas flow. There's nothing time consuming about it, it literally takes seconds.

I hate Farrell bags.

Pretty much the same experience. I have one out of 100 patients that a Farrell bag works for. A 60 mL plunger less cath tip syringe attached to an extension. One handed. Minimal residual or gastric secretions come overflowing out in pedi patients as they are generally low volume feeders. Even the children with distention and bloating complicated by excessive mucus one hand on the syringe & extension the other to press on the abdomen or reposition. Not hard work and highly effective. Occasionally a full syringe is needed if mucus plugs the extension.