What preventative measures can the nurse implement to prevent tube feeding complications?
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The use of NG, PEG and other feeding tubes can give rise to numerous complications if nursing home staff fails to properly monitor them. Common complications include aspiration pneumonia and infection. If your elderly loved one requires the use of enteral nutrition, make sure the nursing home has created a full monitoring and care program to keep your loved one healthy. Show
Common Preventative MeasuresFortunately, there are numerous steps nursing home staff can take to avoid common feeding tube complications, including:
Review your loved one’s care plan to make sure these and other steps are in place. If you do not see a checklist to avoid feeding tube complications, ask questions immediately and request that the staff create a plan – and follow it – immediately.
Why Some Nursing Homes Cannot Avoid Problems With Enteral NutritionEven if the above list of items seems fairly simple to implement, not all nursing homes are up to the task. This is often due to understaffed nursing homes, where there are not enough hands on deck at any given time to provide the quantity or quality assessments that patients require. In other situations, nursing homes do not have enough trained staff on hand that can identify issues or take action to prevent problems from occurring. The best thing you can do to ensure your loved one will receive the care he or she needs and deserves is to ask questions about staffing before your loved one moves in. You should also visit often and ask your loved one about the level of care he or she receives on a daily basis. At the first sign of infection, illness or other problem, raise your voice, ask questions and demand immediate action.
Time to Read: About 2 minutes This information explains what you can do to prevent aspiration when you’re eating, drinking, or tube feeding. Aspiration is when food or liquid goes into your airway instead of your esophagus. Your esophagus is the tube that carries food and liquid from your mouth to your stomach. Aspiration can happen when you’re eating, drinking, or tube feeding. It can also happen when you’re vomiting (throwing up) or when you have heartburn. You may be at risk of aspiration if you have trouble swallowing. This is because food or liquid can get stuck in the back of your throat and go into your airway. Aspiration can lead to pneumonia, respiratory infections (infections in your nose, throat, or lungs), and other health problems. Signs of aspiration include: You and your
caregiver should watch for these signs before, during, and after you eat, drink, or tube feed. If you have any of these signs, stop eating, drinking, or tube feeding. Call your healthcare provider right away. Follow these guidelines to prevent aspiration when you’re eating and drinking by mouth: Figure 1. Sitting up at a 45-degree angle Follow these guidelines to prevent aspiration if you’re tube feeding: To help prevent aspiration, it’s important to pace your feedings. Follow the guidelines below during your feedings to make sure you’re not taking in more than you can digest: If you have any questions, call your Clinical Dietitian Nutritionist at
212-639-7312 or Nutrition Advanced Practice Provider (APP) at 212-639-6984. When to Contact Your Healthcare ProviderContact your healthcare provider if you have any of the following:
If you’re having problems breathing or any other emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room right away. Back to topHow can you prevent tube feeding complications?To help prevent this problem, keep the head of the bed elevated 30 degrees or higher when possible. During patient transport or when placing the head of the bed flat for patient repositioning, turn the tube feeding off, especially if the patient has a high aspiration risk.
What safety precautions should be taken while the patient is receiving tube feedings?Wear gloves when handling feeding tubes and avoid touching can tops, container openings, spikes and spike ports. Label equipment: Labels should include the patient's name and room number, the formula type and rate, the date and time of administration and the nurse's initials.
How do you protect a feeding tube?Securing the Tube. You should always use some sort of securement device, such as a Grip-Lok or Cinch, or medical tape, such as Micropore (paper tape) or Hypafix, to secure the length of this tube.. Onesies, one-piece sleepers, overalls, or other one-piece clothing will help keep the G-tube from being pulled out.. What are important aspects of care regarding tube feeding?Keep the insertion site clean and dry.
Clean the area around the tube with plain soap and water at least once a day, more often if there is any drainage or formula oozing onto the skin. After cleaning, dry the area with a soft, clean cloth to prevent skin irritation from moisture.
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