G-tube continuous feeding page 3

Flushing with continuous feeding

When giving continuous feeding, flush the G-Tube every 3 to 4 hours. This will keep it from getting clogged.

1. Stop the feeding. (Turn the pump off or to “hold.”)

2. Draw up 50 to 75 cubic centimeters ormilliliters (or the amount his doctor tellsyou) of warm water into the syringe.

3. Take the feeding bag tube out of the G-Tube feeding port. Pinch the tubing so the food won’t flow out. (Hold portshigher than stomach.)

4. Slowly push the water into the feeding portto clear all of the feeding from the G-tube.

5. When the G-Tube is clear, connect the feeding bag tube back to the feeding port of the G-Tube.

6. Turn the pump back on. (Or turn from “hold” back to “run.”)

© Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc., Atlanta, GAFrom The Teaching Book. Use restricted by license agreement.

CAUTIONIf you can’t flush the G-Tube, don’t connect the tubes. Call the doctor or nurse.

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G-tube continuous feeding page 2

You can make notes on the pump set-up here:

Type of pump________________________________

Rate_______________________________________

Start time __________________________________

Stop time___________________________________

Amount (cubic centimeters or milliliters) _________

_______________________________________

Other directions _____________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

The company that you got the pump from will also leavewritten instructions on:

• how to use the pump

• what to do when an alarm occurs

• electrical safety with the pump

• battery power

Keep this information close to the pump to refer to when needed.

Ask the nurse how often you should replace the feeding bag and tube. Write that in here:

Change bag every __________________________.

HOLDRUN

OFF

© Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc., Atlanta, GAFrom The Teaching Book. Use restricted by license agreement.

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G-Tube continuous feeding

This type of feeding is for thosewho can’t take a lot of food at one time. The feeding is dripped slowly into the stomach, sometimes all day and night.

You connect the feedingbag to the feeding port of theG-tube. Most of the time, apump is used. This makes the feeding go in at a slow,steady rate.

1. Pour the formula or feeding into the feeding bag.

2. Let a small amount run through the feeding bag tube to clear out all the air. (This helps prevent gasand problems with the pump.) Thefeeding should run through the baguntil it begins to come out the tube.

3. Close the clamp on the feeding bag tube.

4. Set up the pump. (The nurse orsomeone from the company thatsupplies the pump will teach you how to do this.)

5. Place the tip of the feeding bag tube securely into the G-Tube feeding port.

6. Open the clamp on the tube.

7. Turn the pump to start/run.

© Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc., Atlanta, GAFrom The Teaching Book. Use restricted by license agreement.

feedingbag

clamp

raised 30°

HOLDRUN

OFF

feeding bagtube

feeding port

G-Tube

pump

clamp

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