How to Feed Someone with a Feeding Tube/Clean Feeding Tube

Using a feeding tube is easier for the caretaker and the patient. Most patients lose there appetite and just can not eat. When, someone does not want to eat. It can be quite difficult to get them to eat. We all have been sick one time or another. Remember how the thought of food made you sick. Try to imagine being terminally ill. You probably never seen much less used a feeding tube. Now you are in a situation where you need to learn how to feed someone and maintain the feeding tube.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• The starting kit the hospital or doctor gave you.

1. When coming home from the hospital. The doctor usually will send you home with bandages and syringes with alcohol and antibacterial ointment. Everyday the stomach area needs to be cleaned. You can shower with no worries with a feeding tube. Shower not possible take a wash rag and clean around the area.

2. Use a cotton ball or gauze to apply the alcohol. Clean all around the incision. Make sure you clean the cap that covers the incision.

3. Look for what is called a drain sponge. It comes in a 4”X 4”package. Open the package you will notice a slit and a hole in the sponge.

4. Slide the sponge under the cap until the sponge is surrounding the hose. This is important. It keeps the incision dry and it stops the cap from rubbing the skin.

5. Now you are ready to feed. If the person is a diabetic, you use Glucerna. Usually the whole can.
   If they are not a diabetic, they usually use Ensure.

6. Find the syringe it is huge. Fill syringe with Glucerna or Ensure.

7. You will see a clamp on the hose. Unclamp the hose and pull open the plug at the end of the hose.

8. Put the syringe in where you opened the plug. Gently push down on the plunger until all the liquid is gone.

9. Pull syringe out of the hole. Take and close the clamp so none of the liquid comes out.

10. Rinse syringe until clean. Fill syringe up about half way with bottled water. Go back unclamp the clamp. Then inject the water in the hose until flushed out. Re clamp it then put the plug back in at the end of the hose. A few hours after feeding it is time to release the gases, that is built up in the stomach. Unclamp the hose and open the plug. Let the gases come out and re clamp hose and close plug at the end of the hose.

Tips & Warnings

• If hose becomes clogged, use coke or diet coke to clean the Tube.
• Sometimes stomach fluid backs up in the hose. You might want to have something to catch the liquid.

[look4writing]

on 10/23/2009 \\Good information, I hope I never have to use it and that my children will not have to use it.
love the article. 5* look4writing

[greatgreat8]

on 10/23/2009 this is great information, thanks 5*