Qfeed for tube feeding nares professional#

If the tubing comes out of the mouth, retract the tubing and try again. If the patient gags during the procedure, the nurse should stop advancing the tube and allow the patient to rest. The tubing should be secured with tape and checked for placement. The tubing should be advanced until the marker tape is reached (applied when measuring the distance to the patient's stomach). The patient can assist by swallowing and can even take sips of water to help move the tubing down into the stomach. Gravity and swallowing will help move the tube down the esophagus as the nurse gently continues to advance the tube.

The nurse should gently rotate the tubing 180 degrees to redirect the curve of the tube and ease the tubing down the throat, past the closed epiglottis. As the tube rounds the bend into the throat, the patient should tilt the head forward into a neutral upright position, hold his or her breath, and swallow.

Qfeed for tube feeding nares professional#

To insert a nasogastric tube, the nurse or other health care professional should have the patient tilt his or her head slightly back and gently ease the lubricated tubing into the nares. Long-term NG tube usage can cause nasal erosion, sinusitis, esophagitis, gastric ulceration, esophageal-tracheal fistula formation, oral infections, and respiratory infections.

Patients that require long term tube feeding should have surgical placement of a gastrostomy tube or gastrostomy button. NG tube placement is meant to be a short-term solution for feeding problems. The feeding size may need to be decreased if the patient is not digesting it. If the amount of gastric aspirate is large prior to a bolus or intermittent feeding, notify the physician and follow the protocol of the medical setting for re-instilling the gastric aspirate. If a patient has severe sinus conditions, nasal obstruction, or has had facial surgery, it may be necessary to place a oral-gastric tube to avoid further nasal trauma. Keep the patient in an upright or semi-upright sitting position when delivering a tube feeding to enhance peristalsis and avoid regurgitation of the feeding.Ĭheck patients who are receiving continuous feedings via a pump or gravity hourly or according to the medical settings policy, to assure that the tube is in position, the formula is flowing at the correct rate, and the patient is comfortable with no signs of distention or distress.Ĭap or clamp off the NG tube when not in use to prevent backflow of stomach contents or accumulation of air in the stomach. If the tube is out of place, the patient may aspirate the feeding solution into the lungs. Forcing the tube can cause traumatic injury to the tissue of the nose, throat, or esophagus.Īlways check the tube positioning before giving feedings. If resistance occurs, rotate and retract the tube slightly and try again. Precautionsĭo not use force when inserting a NG tube. Placing a NG tube helps prevent nausea and vomiting by removing stomach contents and preventing distention of the stomach when a patient has a bleeding ulcer, bowel obstruction, or other gastrointestinal diseases.Ī NG tube may be inserted to take samples of stomach contents for laboratory studies and to test for pressure or motor activity of the gastrointestinal tract. It is used to remove stomach contents after major trauma or surgery to prevent aspiration of the stomach contents. A NG tube is used to remove air that accumulates in the stomach during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). A NG tube is used to empty the stomach when accidental poisoning or drug overdose has occurred. Other substances that are delivered through a NG tube may include ice water to stop bleeding in the stomach or medications to neutralize swallowed poisons.Īnother purpose for inserting a nasogastric tube is to remove substances from the stomach. Patients who may need a NG tube for feedings include: premature babies, patients in a coma, patients who have had neck or facial surgery, or patients on mechanical ventilation. The most common purpose for inserting a nasogastric tube is to deliver tube feedings to a patient when they are unable to eat. Nasogastric tubes are inserted to deliver substances directly into the stomach, remove substances from the stomach, or as a means of testing stomach function or contents. Nasogastric intubation refers to the process of placing a soft plastic nasogastric (NG) tube through a patient's nostril, past the pharynx, and down the esophagus into a patient's stomach. Nasogastric Intubation and Feeding Definition