Troubleshooting PEG tube

[gilliganracing]

I have a question-I hope someone can help with. I have worked with alot of PEG tubes, but we currently have one which is giving us problems. Recently, the tubing is coming undone and needs to be secured to the PEG. It is like there is pressure pushing the tubing (feeding tubing) back out?? Why is it doing this?? It has been fine before. No one seems to know the answer. Any help?

[bikeracer5313]

We have just been taping it--but yes it is a big pain in the butt to retape every time to flush and give meds. It is improving though, so who knows?

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Are you checking placement with air? Maybe too much? How about an antacid? Had a lady who popped her tube alot..after starting reglan..rarely happens??

[austin heart, BSN, RN]

Could you use a Lopez Valve to connect the feeding tube to the PEG? That would at least eleminate the need to disconect for flushes and meds. You would only have to disconnect once daily when you change your feeding bag.

[leslie :-D]

if the pt's abdomen is distended, then it's definitely increased intragastric pressure, which then a rectal tube works wonders.

i have no idea what a lopez valve is....

but the pts i've had with ongoing disconnection was r/t their abd pressure.

leslie

[austin heart, BSN, RN]

i have no idea what a lopez valve is....

leslie

The Lopez Valve

One of ICU Medical's first devices is the Lopez Enteral Valve. The Lopez Valve is a stopcock like device, which allows the health care worker to access Enteral systems without breaking open the lines.

Here is a link with a picture.....

http://www.icumed.com/LopezValve.asp

[leslie :-D]

The Lopez Valve

One of ICU Medical's first devices is the Lopez Enteral Valve. The Lopez Valve is a stopcock like device, which allows the health care worker to access Enteral systems without breaking open the lines.

Here is a link with a picture.....

http://www.icumed.com/LopezValve.asp

thank you austin.

i've worked with those, just never knew what they were called; for some reason have used them more with j-tubes. thanks again.

leslie

[LPN1974, LPN]

I experienced the same problem with some of my G-tubes in the NH I worked in.

It seemed to me that the end of the G-tube, that was put in the patient while in the hospital, did not "fit" the end of the feeding bag/tube that we had in the NH.

Just seemed like they weren't compatible.

Several patients we got from the hospital would have this particular type of G-tube.

I got so disgusted, every time I would go in feeding had leaked out in the bed, or the CNAs would come get me and say it was leaking.

I tried tape, too, but it just didn't work. It would eventually slide apart anyway.

I finally removed the little thing, I guess you call it a "port" on the end of the G-tube.

What was left was just the rubber tubing and that fit and stayed tight over the end of the feeding tube.

Kind of like the end of a foley going over the end of a catheter bag tubing.

[austin heart, BSN, RN]

thank you austin.

i've worked with those, just never knew what they were called; for some reason have used them more with j-tubes. thanks again.

leslie

Your welcome. :)

I have used them on J-tubes, NG-tubes, dobhoffs and PEGS. Makes things much easier and cleaner.