To properly feed a person with a nasogastric tube it is important to have the following material:
- 1 100 ml syringe (feeding syringe);
- 1 glass of water;
- 1 cloth (optional).
The feeding syringe should be flushed after each use and should be changed at least every 2 weeks by a new one purchased at the pharmacy.
Also, to prevent the catheter from becoming clogged and need to be replaced, only liquid foods such as soup or vitamins, for example. See how to prepare the diet for nasogastric tube.
The correct technique for feeding a person with a catheter helps to ease the caregiver's task and avoid complications such as excessive gas in the stomach or aspiration of food into the lungs.
6 steps to feed a person with tube
Before starting the technique to feed the person with a nasogastric tube is to sit the patient or lift the back with a cushion to prevent the food from returning to the mouth or aspirated into the lungs.
1. Place a cloth under the nasogastric tube to protect the bed or person from leftover food falling from the syringe.
2. Fold the tip of the nasogastric tube tightly so that no air enters the tube as shown in the picture and remove the cap by placing it on the cloth.
3. Insert the tip of the 100 ml syringe into the probe opening, unfold the tube, and pull the plunger to aspirate the liquid that is inside the stomach. If you can suck up more than half the amount of liquid in the previous meal (about 100 ml), it is recommended to feed the person later when the content is less than 50 ml, for example. The aspirated contents should always be put back into the stomach.
4. Fold the end of the nasogastric tube back in, tighten the air in the tube and remove the syringe, replacing the cap before unfolding the probe.
5. Fill the syringe with food and put it back into the tube by folding the tube to remove the cap.
6. Slowly depress the syringe plunger, emptying the 100 ml in about 3 minutes, to prevent food from entering the stomach too fast. Repeat this step until you have finished giving all the food by folding and capping the probe with the cap every time you remove the syringe.
After feeding the person with nasogastric tube it is important to wash the syringe and put at least 30 ml of water in the tube to wash the tube and prevent it from being clogged. However, if water has not yet been drawn through the probe, the probe can be washed with about 70 ml to prevent the patient from being thirsty.
Care after feeding the person with a catheter
After feeding the person with a nasogastric tube it is important to keep them seated or with their backs raised for at least 30 minutes to allow easier digestion and avoid the risk of vomiting. However, if it is not possible to keep the patient seated, it should be turned to the right side to respect the anatomy of the stomach and prevent food reflux.
In addition, it is important to give water by the catheter regularly and maintain the patient's oral hygiene because, even when not feeding through the mouth, the bacteria continue to develop, causing cavities or thrush, for example.
See also other important care for the person in bed:
- How to bathe in a bedridden person
- How to become a bedridden person
- How to lift a bedridden person
