Types of Feeding Tubes

A feeding tube is used to help deliver nutrients to a patient's body when they can not take food in through the mouth. There are a number of reasons that a feeding tube might be needed, which range from an inability to take in and chew food due to weakness or lack of consciousness to risks of choking and blockage or injury to the upper digestive system. A feeding tube is not always a permanent fixture and may be used for both short term and long term uses. There are a few kinds of feeding tubes, which arebdifferentiated by their placement.

G-Tube

• One type of feeding tube is known as the G-Tube. It is also sometimes called a PEG-Tube, Mushroom, MIC or Malecot tube. The G-Tube is connected directly to the patient's stomach through an incision made in the abdominal wall structure. This kind of feeding tube is designed for long term tube feeding and its placement is generally on the left hand side of the abdominal cavity slightly below the ribs.

  Gastric leakage can occur with this tube placement. The corrosive nature of the gastric juices found in the stomach can irritate the skin around the incision if there is leakage. Proper cleaning and gauze covering are done to minimize this irritation.

J-Tube

• The J-Tube, also known as a Jejunostomy tube or a PEJ tube, is another kind of feeding tube. Like the G-tube, this tube is place surgically by making a small incision in the abdominal wall. However the J-tube is connected directly to the patient's small intestine and nutrients completely bypass the stomach with this type of tube feeding. Usually the tube is placed towards the center of the abdomen and connected to the upper portion of the small intestines. Sutures are sometimes used to hold the tube in place. A feeding pump which pumps a predetermined amount of nutrient mix into the tube must be used with this kind of feeding tube setup.

NG-Tube

• A common short term use feeding tube, the NG-Tube is also known as a Nasogastric Tube and is placed into the nostrils of the patient. The tubes are smaller than the tubes used in surgical placements and they run through the nose down the esophagus into the stomach.

  The tube's placement must be checked and adjusted before each feeding. Surgical tape is often used to secure the tube to the nose.

Method of Nutrient Delivery into Tube

• There are a number of ways that the nutrient formula mix is given through the feeding tube. The methods include the Bolus/Syringe method, Gravity Drip method and the Pump Feeding method.

  The Bolus/Syringe method uses a syringe needle to deliver the nutrient formula into the outside opening of the feeding tube. The nurse or doctor measures the amount of formula needed for the patient and pours it into a syringe. The syringe tip is placed inside the feeding tube opening and as the syringe top is depressed, the fluid flows into the tube using gravity.

  The Gravity Drip method, as the name suggests, also uses gravity to deliver nutrients through the feeding tube. This method is similar to the method used to deliver I.V. doses of medications. A formula bag is connected via tubes to the feeding tube and hung on an I.V. rack that is above the patient. Ice pouches may be attached to the drip bag to keep the formula cool and a roller clamp placed on the bag's tube controls the flow of the formula. Bags are usually changed every 24 hours to reduce the risk of bacteria in the formula and to ensure fresh formula is being used.

  The Pump Feeding method is a method of formula delivery that is controlled by a device powered by battery or electricity. The amount of formula to be delivered is determined by the doctor and adjusted accordingly on the device's interface controls. This method is used for J-Tube feeding tube connections to move the food through the tube (which sometimes falls below the patient's center of gravity) and ensures that is makes it into the small intestines.

Considerations

• A patient may feel discomfort with the initial placement of a feeding tube, regardless of the type or method used. This is due to irritation caused by the tube as well as the healing process the body will go through when an incision is made for the tube.

  Feeding tubes are not always a permanent part of a patient's care, they may be used for short periods of times and removed when proper nutrition can be ensured without the use of a feeding tube.

Warning

• Feeding tubes should only be placed, adjusted or removed by licensed and trained doctors or nurses. Pulling on, squeezing or trying to adjust a feeding tube by the patient or a non-trained individual can cause a number of problems and risks ranging from asphyxiation, damage or tears to one's internal organs near the entrance point, and increased risk of infection.