UWHealthKids Nasogastric Feeding Tubes at Home Owner’s Manual
- June 16, 2024
- UWHealthKids
Table of Contents
UWHealthKids Nasogastric Feeding Tubes at Home
Specifications:
- Type: Nasogastric feeding tube
- Material: Thin, flexible, soft tube
- Placement: Passed through the nose, down the throat, and into the stomach
- Securement Options: Transparent dressing or nasal bridle
- Nasal Bridle Duration: Can remain in place for up to 30 days
Product Usage Instructions
1. Tube Placement:
A nasogastric feeding tube is inserted through the child’s nostril, down the throat, and into the stomach. It is important to ensure proper placement before use.
How to verify tube placement:
- An x-ray will be taken when the tube is placed.
- The feeding tube will have a number marking where it exits the nose.
- Check the number marking every time you use the tube to ensure it hasn’t moved.
- If the number marking moves, do not use the tube and contact your healthcare provider.
2. Tube Securement:
The feeding tube needs to be securely held in place to prevent it from moving out of the stomach.
Options for tube securement:
- Transparent dressing: Apply a transparent dressing over the tube where it exits the nose to keep it in place.
- Nasal bridle: Use a nasal bridle to secure the feeding tube. The bridle can remain in place for up to 30 days.
Feeding Instructions:
Size of feeding tube: Measure the size of the feeding tube at the nose (in centimeters).
Securement Method: Choose either transparent dressing or nasal bridle and provide the appropriate details.
Date tube placed: Record the date when the feeding tube was inserted.
Date tube due to be changed: Note the expected date for changing the feeding tube.
What to feed: Specify the type of fluids, food, or medicine to be administered through the feeding tube.
Amount to feed: Determine the quantity of the feed to be given.
Method: Choose between bolus (single large amount) or continuous (small, continuous flow) feeding.
How often to feed: Specify the frequency of feedings.
Schedule: Provide a feeding schedule if applicable.
If using a pump, rate of feeding: If using a pump, set and mention the rate of feeding.
Flush the feeding tube: After each feeding, flush the tube with a specified amount of water (in milliliters).
Other instructions: Add any additional
instructions or information relevant to using the feeding tube.
4. Supplies Care:
To maintain hygiene and cleanliness, follow these steps to care for the supplies:
- Wash supplies with soap and warm water.
- Rinse well with water.
- Allow supplies to dry before use.
5. Feeding Time:
Make feeding time a special experience for your child:
- Babies: Hold your baby closely, cuddle, rock, or talk to them during tube feedings, just as if they were being fed by mouth. Offer a pacifier to practice sucking and swallowing.
- Toddlers: Engage them in quiet activities or games while they stay in one place during feedings.
- Older children: Let them sit at the table with the family and receive a tube feeding while the rest of the family eats a meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a nasogastric feeding tube?
A nasogastric feeding tube is a thin, flexible, soft tube that is passed through your child’s nose (nostril), down the back of the throat (esophagus), and into the stomach. A nasogastric feeding tube is sometimes called an NG
Why does my child need a nasogastric feeding tube?
A feeding tube is used to give fluids, food, or medicine when a child cannot take them by mouth. Reasons a child may need a nasogastric tube include:
- Problems with sucking, chewing, or swallowing.
- Unable to get enough nutrition with a normal diet.
Why is it important to keep the tube secured?
The tube needs to be kept secure to ensure the tube stays in the stomach. It is unsafe if the tube moves out of the stomach. The tube can be secured by a transparent dressing or a nasal bridle. The nasal bridle will reduce the chances of the tube coming out. Nasal bridles can remain in place for up to 30 days.
How do I know the tube is in the stomach?
An x-ray will be taken when the tube is placed, and the feeding tube will have a number marking where it exits the nose. This number should not move. Check the number every time you use the tube. If the number moves, do not use the tube and call your provider.
Your Child’s Feeding Tube & Plan
- Size of feeding tube:
- Measurement at nose (cm):
- Securement Method:
- Transparent dressing
- Nasal bridle, bridle size
- Date tube placed:
- Date tube due to be changed:
- What to feed: Amount to feed:
- Method:
- Bolus
- Continuous
- How often to feed:
- Schedule:
- If using pump, rate of feeding
- Flush the feeding tube at the end of each feeding with ml of water.
- Other instructions
How do I give a bolus feeding by gravity?
- Wash hands with soap and water.
- Check tube to make sure the number marking has not moved.
- Prepare feeding in a syringe or bag and prime tubing. Prepare flush.
- Connect feeding bag/syringe to a feeding tube.
- Deliver feeding with child in upright position with syringe or bag above child’s head.
- When feeding is complete, disconnect bag/syringe from a feeding tube.
- Flush the feeding tube with mL of water.
- Clamp feeding tube.
How do I care for the supplies?
Wash supplies with soap and warm water. Rinse well with water and let dry.
What can I do while my child is being fed?
Feeding time is a special time for babies. Babies enjoy being held closely, cuddled, rocked, or talked to during tube feedings just as if they were being fed by mouth. Hold your baby and offer a pacifier during feeding to practice sucking and swallowing. Toddlers will need to stay in one place, so playing a game or doing a quiet activity may help. Older children can sit at the table with the family and receive a tube feeding while the family eats a meal.
When should I call my child’s doctor?
- Your child has trouble breathing.
- Your child turns blue.
- You see blood around the tube, in your child’s stool, or in stomach contents.
- Your child coughs, chokes, or vomits while feeding.
- Your child has a bloated or rigid belly (the belly feels hard when it is gently pressed).
- Your child is in pain during feeding.
- Your child has diarrhea or constipation.
- Your child has a fever of 100.4 F or higher.
Problem-Solving
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Clogged Feeding Tube | · Flush the tube with warm water. |
· Do not use carbonated drinks, juice or heavy pressure.
· If unable to unclog the tube, call the provider.
Cracked tube| · Call provider
Tube not at right number marking or tube comes out| · Call provider
· If the tube is partially out, remove the tube.
· To remove bridle:
o Cut only one strand of the bridle loop.
o Gently pull both the bridle and nasal tube out of the nose.
Vomiting (throwing up)| · Slow feeding rate or stop feeding for a while.
· Start feeding again when child feels better.
· Call the provider if vomiting continues.
The skin inside and around nose is red| · Keep the area clean.
· Inspect the skin around the nostril close to the tube and bridle and look for any signs of pressure, irritation, and/or breakdown.
· Apply a small amount of ointment (i.e. Aquaphor) with a cotton tip applicator two times per day.
· Gently remove any build-up from tube or nose with a cotton tip applicator and water.
Nasal stuffiness| · Use saline nasal spray. One spray in each nostril up to three times per day.
Your healthcare team may have given you this information as part of your care. If so, please use it and call if you have any questions. If this information was not given to you as part of your care, please check with your doctor. This is not medical advice. This is not to be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Because each person’s health needs are different, you should talk with your doctor or others on your healthcare team when using this information. If you have an emergency, please call 911. Copyright © 11/2022 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#7223.