The Teaching Book Assisting Skills G-tube Bolus Feeding

G-tube bolus feeding

page 3

After the meal When the bolus feeding is finished: • Have the syringe ready for flushing.

30 min. to 1 hour

• Take the feeding bag tube or syringe out of the feeding port. Pinch the tube, and close the cap to avoid backflow. Keep the tube at or above stomach level.

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• Flush the G-Tube with warm water. Ask your nurse about this.

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• Close the cap.

• Keep your loved one seated or lying down with his head raised for 30 minutes to 1 hour after the feeding.

You may be able to reuse the feeding bag and tube. Ask the nurse how often they should be replaced.

If you can reuse the bag and tube: • Wash them in warm soapy water or a vinegar/water solution, and rinse well.

• With the clamp open, hang to air dry.

• Store in a clean, dry place.

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

G-tube bolus feeding

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Using a feeding bag

hook

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

2. Let a small amount run through the feeding bag tube to clear out all the air. (This helps prevent gas.) The food should run through the bag until it begins to come out the tube.

feeding bag

3. Close the clamp on the feeding bag tube.

clamp

4. Place the tip of the feeding bag tube securely into the G-Tube feeding port. Then, open the clamp.

feeding bag tube

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5. Hold the feeding bag above the stomach. Let the formula flow in at a slow rate. You can hang the feeding bag on a wall hook to keep it higher than the stomach. Ask the nurse about other ways to keep the bag above the stomach.

feeding port

G-Tube

Hold or hang the bag about 18 inches higher than the stomach. This will help reduce cramping.

Continued on next page. Š Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc., Atlanta, GA From The Teaching Book. Use restricted by license agreement.

G-Tube bolus feeding This type of feeding is for those who are able to feed themselves or who can handle a large amount of food at one time. It is done 3 or 4 times a day. Most of the time, it takes about 15 to 30 minutes. Before you begin, tell the patient what you are going to do.

The food is poured into a large syringe or a feeding bag with a tube. A clamp on the tube keeps the food from running through the tube until you are ready.

Using a syringe 1. Remove the plunger. Put the tip of the syringe into the G-Tube feeding port.

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2. Pour the formula into the syringe.

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3. Hold the syringe above the stomach.

Let the formula flow in at a slow rate— over 15 to 30 minutes.

CAUTION Do not let the level of the syringe go below the stomach, or the contents will flow backwards.

Continued on next page. Š Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc., Atlanta, GA From The Teaching Book. Use restricted by license agreement.