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In case of an emergency, dial 911 or call _________________________

If you have a question or problem, call your health care professional:

Doctor ______________________________ Phone _______________________

Doctor ______________________________ Phone _______________________

Nurse _______________________________ Phone _______________________

Supply Source _______________________ Phone _______________________

Tube Type

___ NG (nasogastric) ___ G (gastrostomy) or PEG

___ NJ (nasojejunal) ___ J (jejunostomy) or PEJ

Tube Information

French size _______________________________________________________

Length (if a low-profile G-tube) _______________________________________

Balloon volume (if a balloon G-tube) __________________________________

Reorder number ___________________________________________________

Feeding Method

___ Gravity drip ___ Pump ___ Syringe (bolus)

Feeding Schedule

Formula name _____________________________________________________

Amount of formula/day _____________________________________________

Feeding schedule __________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Amount of each feeding _____________________________________________

Additional water ____________________________________________________

Hourly feeding rate ____ mL/hour or Gravity drip rate ____ drops/minute

Flush Amounts

Use a 30-mL or larger syringe.

Before a feeding ____ mL Before medications ____ mL

After a feeding ____ mL After medications ____ mL

During continuous feeding ____ mL Between medications ____ mLevery ____ hours

Adjusting to Tube Feeding ....................... 3What Is Tube Feeding? ............................ 4How Tube Feeding Works ........................ 5

Feeding Tubes for the Stomach ............ 5Feeding Tubes for the Small Intestine ... 5

Before You Begin a Feeding..................... 6Hand Washing.................................... 6Checking Tube Placement................... 6Checking Residual ............................. 9Decompression.................................. 9Tube Flushing..................................... 9Positioning Your Child....................... 10

Feeding Your Child ................................ 11Feeding Schedule ............................ 11Types of Formula.............................. 11Feeding Equipment .......................... 12Preparing the Feeding........................12

Feeding Methods .................................. 14Gravity Feeding ................................ 14Syringe (Bolus) Feeding.................... 16Pump Feeding.................................. 18

General Care ........................................ 20Tube Site Care ................................. 20Mouth Care ..................................... 24Giving Medications........................... 24

Managing Problems .............................. 26Constipation .................................... 26Diarrhea .......................................... 27Dehydration ..................................... 28Clogged Tube................................... 29Out-of-Place Tube ............................. 29

When To Call for Help............................ 31Glossary ............................................... 32

Table ofContents

1

Your Child’s Care Plan

© 2003 Abbott Laboratories

AT T E N T I O N HEALTH CAREPROFESSIONAL:Ross Products Division,Abbott Laboratoriesprovides the generalinformation andguidelines found in thisbooklet to health careprofessionals as an aidin counseling parents.

To maximize thebenefits of this bookletfor your patient’scaregivers, pleasecomplete the CarePlan at left and fill inthe blanks on page 31.

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It will take time for you to get used totube feeding at home, but be patient.With the help of your health careprofessionals, this booklet, and somepractice, you will soon learn to set upfeedings and care for your child’sfeeding tube. Encourage other familymembers to help, and even your childif he or she is able.

Some families feed the child at familymealtimes, while others give tubefeedings in private. Talk about whatworks best for you, your child, and yourfamily. To feed your child away fromhome, ask your supplier about portablefeeding pumps with carrying bags.

To help both you and your child adjustto tube feeding, contact an organizationthat offers educational materials and thechance to meet other families. The OleyFoundation is a nonprofit organizationfor those who depend on home enteral(tube-fed) or parenteral (IV) nutrition.All services are offered free of chargefor patients and their families. Call1-800-776-OLEY or visit www.oley.orgfor more information.

Adjusting to Tube Feeding

3

Important words you shouldknow are shown in bold thefirst time you see them in thisbooklet. Look in the Glossary on page 32 to find out what these words mean.

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Tube feeding helps your child get acomplete and healthy diet at home.Because your child cannot eat or drinkenough or at all by mouth, he or she hasto be fed through a feeding tube. Thefeeding tube delivers a liquid food calledformula directly into the stomach orsmall intestine.

Complete, balanced nutritional formulascontain the protein, carbohydrate, fat,vitamins, minerals, and water found ina healthy diet of regular food. Theseare nutrients your child needs to growand develop.

Your health care professional will set up aCare Plan for your child (see inside frontcover). This plan will include whichformula to use, and when and how muchto feed your child. Your health careprofessional should evaluate your childregularly and track your child’s weightand height to make sure he or she isgetting the right kind and the rightamount of formula. You should also trackthe medications and extra water you giveyour child each day. Keep this informationin a notebook to share with your healthcare professional.

Follow your health care professional’sinstructions. Ask him or her if you haveany questions about tube feeding yourchild at home.

What Is Tube Feeding?

In regular eating, food goes into themouth, down the esophagus, and intothe stomach. With tube feeding, formulagoes directly into the stomach or smallintestine through a feeding tube.

Feeding Tubes forthe StomachNasogastric (NG) tubes go into the noseand down to the stomach.

Gastrostomy (G) tubes go directlyinto the stomach through a hole in theabdominal wall called a stoma. (Theyare sometimes called PEG tubes.)

Feeding Tubes forthe Small IntestineNasojejunal (NJ) tubes go into the noseand down to the jejunum, the secondpart of the small intestine.

Jejunostomy (J) tubes go directlyinto the jejunum through astoma or through agastrostomy tube andinto the jejunum. (Theyare sometimes calledPEJ tubes.)

How TubeFeeding Works

esophagus

stomach

jejunum

5

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Hand WashingAlways wash your hands beforepreparing the formula and beforetouching the feeding tube, tube site, orfeeding equipment. If your hands aren’tclean, you could spread germs thatmight cause an infection.

1. Wash with soap and water.

2. Rinse thoroughly.

3. Dry with a clean towel.

Checking Tube PlacementCheck to make sure your child’s feedingtube is in the stomach or small intestinebefore each feeding or every 4 to 6 hoursduring continuous feeding. If thefeeding tube is not in the right place, donot start the feeding. Call your healthcare professional right away.

Before YouBegin a Feeding

Ask your health care professional how tocheck tube placement. Here are someexamples:

NG or G-TubesAuscultation—Use a stethoscope to listenfor sounds in the stomach.

1. Draw 5 to 15 mL of air into a 30-mLor larger syringe. Ask your health care professional how much air you should use.

2. Insert the syringe into the feeding port of the feeding tube.

3. Place the stethoscope over the left side of the stomach, just above the waist.

4. Listen through the stethoscope while you gently inject the air into the feeding tube. You should hear a bubbling or whooshing sound, which means the air went into the stomach.

5. If you do not hear the sound, try again. If you still cannot hear the sound, do not give the feeding. Call your health care professional.

6 7

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Aspiration—Use a syringe to draw fluidout of the stomach through the feedingtube. The fluid should look like formulaor stomach contents, which can be clearor yellow.

G or J-TubesMeasurement—Use a ruler to measurethe tube from the stoma to the end ofthe tube. The new measurement shouldbe about the same as the day before.If the measurement is different fromthe day before, do not give the feeding.Call your health care professional.

Checking ResidualIf your child has a G or NG-tube, yourhealth care professional may tell youto check the residual before feedingsand show you how to do it. Checkingresidual is a way to make sure that thestomach is emptying formula. Residual isthe formula that remains in the stomachfrom the last feeding.

If your child has an upset stomach orfeels full, wait 30 to 60 minutes beforestarting the feeding.

DecompressionSometimes tube feedings cause a buildupof air in the stomach. Your health careprofessional may teach you how torelease air or fluid from the stomachbefore or after feedings. This is calleddecompression or venting.

Tube FlushingFlush the feeding tube with waterregularly using a 30-mL or larger syringeto prevent clogs. Ask your health careprofessional how often to flush your child’sfeeding tube and how much water to use (seeCare Plan). Your health care professionalmay recommend flushing duringcontinuous feeding, before and/or aftereach intermittent (bolus) feeding,after checking the residual, and before,after, and between giving medications.8 9

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Positioning Your ChildWhen giving your child a feeding, followthe guidelines below on how to positionyour child. These guidelines will helpreduce the risk of breathing (aspirating)formula into the lungs, which can causeserious problems.

• Do not give a feeding while yourchild is lying flat. If possible, hold ababy or young child during feedingsas you would if you were giving thechild a bottle.

• An older child can sit in a chair orhigh chair, or he or she can be proppedup on a couch at a half-sitting position(at least a 30-degree angle).

• If you feed your child in bed, placerolled blankets under the mattress toraise the head of the bed 6 to 8 inches(30 to 45 degrees). Lay your child onhis or her right side.

• If your child cries during the feeding,stop the feeding. Continue the feedingwhen your child is quiet and calm.

• Keep your child in a raised position forat least 1 hour after the feeding. Lyingflat can cause vomiting or coughing.

If your child has had a Nissenfundoplication and he or she gags andseems to need to vomit but can’t, callyour doctor.

Feeding ScheduleYour health care professional willset up a feeding schedule for your child.

• Intermittent feeding or bolusfeeding—formula is fed at a higherfeeding rate for a short amount oftime, 3 to 8 times a day.

• Continuous feeding—formula is fedat a slower feeding rate for a longeramount of time, such as all day orall night.

Types of Formula Formulas come in three types:

• Ready-to-use formula does nothave to be mixed with water beforeuse. It comes “ready to use” in cans.

• Powder formula has to be mixedwith water to make a liquid feeding.

• Concentrate is a liquid that must bemixed with water before use so thatthe formula is the right strength.

Formula made by adding water topowder or concentrate is called recon-stituted formula. To make reconstitutedformula, follow the directions on thelabel for the amounts of powder orconcentrate and water to mix together.

Feeding Your Child

11

Milliliters Cups Ounces(mL) (c) (oz)

30 mL 1/8 c 1 oz

60 mL 1/4 c 2 oz

120 mL 1/2 c 4 oz

240 mL 1 c 8 oz

10

To help with formulapreparation, the table aboveconverts milliliters (mL) tocups and ounces.

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4. Write the date and time on the feeding container.

5. Attach the feeding set to the container (if it is not preattached) and close the clamp.

6. Pour the formula into the feeding container.

7. Hang the container on an IV pole or wall hook.

8. Cover any unused formula, and write the date and time on it. Store it in the refrigerator.

9. Follow the instructions for gravity feeding, syringe feeding, or pump feeding. Your health care professional will tell you which method to use.

Throw away unused formula that hasbeen stored in the refrigerator 48 hoursafter mixing or opening. For formulathat has been hung for a feeding, followthe guidelines below:

• Hang reconstituted formula up to4 hours.

• Hang ready-to-use formula 8 to12 hours.

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Feeding EquipmentThe feeding container has to beconnected to special tubing called thefeeding set. Some containers come withthe feeding set already attached.Formula flows from the container to thepump (if you are using a pump) andthen into your child’s feeding tubethrough the feeding set.

Use a new container, syringe, andfeeding set every 24 hours. If you haveto add more formula before it is timeto replace the container, wait until theolder formula is gone. Do not add newformula to old formula.

Preparing the Feeding1. Wash your hands.

2a. Feed ready-to-use formula at room temperature. Shake the can well and wipe the top of the container with a clean cloth before opening. Or,

b. Mix powder or concentrate formula with water following label directions.

3. Measure the amount of formula for your child’s feeding in a measuringcup (see Care Plan). If you feed your child by syringe, go to step 8.

12

PumpContainerFeeding Set

1

1

2

3

3

2

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7. When the feeding is complete, closethe clamp.

8. If your health care professional has told you to give extra water after feedings, pour the prescribed amount into the container.

9. Open the clamp and let the water drip in until gone.

10. Close the clamp and disconnect thefeeding set.

After each gravity feeding:

1. Flush the feeding tube as recommended by your health care professional.

2. Close the cap on the feeding tube until the next feeding.

Throw away container and feeding set every 24 hours. Ask your health care professional about care of the container and feeding set between feedings.

15

Gravity FeedingIn gravity feeding, formula flows downthe tubing. A clamp on gravity feedingsets helps control the feeding rate.

Before each gravity feeding:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Check tube placement.

3. Check the residual if recommendedby your health care professional.

4. Flush the feeding tube as recommended by your health care professional.

Follow these steps:

1. Hang the filled feeding container about 2 feet above and to the side of your child’s feeding tube.

2. Remove the cover from the end of the feeding set.

3. Prime the feeding set.

4. Insert the tip of the feeding set into the feeding tube.

5. Slowly open the clamp on the tubing.

6. Use the clamp to control the flow. Set the flow to the gravity drip rate written on your child’s Care Plan.

• Make the flow faster by opening the clamp.

• Make the flow slower by closingthe clamp.

Feeding Methods

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7. If your health care professional has told you to give extra water after feedings, pour the prescribed amount into the syringe.

8. Allow the water to flow into the feeding tube until gone.

Push Syringe Method

1. Use the plunger of the syringe to draw the formula from the measuring cup into the syringe.

2. Place the syringe tip into the feeding tube.

3. Inject the formula into the feeding tube slowly and gently until gone (about 20 to 30 minutes).

4. If your health care professional has told you to give extra water after feedings, use the plunger of the syringe to draw the prescribed amount into the syringe.

5. Inject the water into the feeding tube slowly and gently.

After each syringe feeding:

1. Flush the feeding tube as recommended by your health care professional.

2. Close the cap on the feeding tube until the next feeding.

Throw away syringe every 24 hours.Ask your health care professional about care of the syringe between feedings.

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Syringe (Bolus) FeedingIn syringe feeding, formula flowsslowly into the feeding tube, or it can beinjected gently into the tube. Follow thesyringe feeding method recommendedby your health care professional. Youcan also use a syringe to give extra wateror fluids.

Before each syringe feeding:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Check tube placement.

3. Check the residual if recommendedby your health care professional.

4. Flush the feeding tube as recommended by your health care professional.

Gravity Syringe Method

1. Remove the plunger from the barrel of a syringe.

2. Place the syringe tip into the feeding tube.

3. Hold the syringe above your child’s stomach.

4. Pour measured formula into the syringe.

5. Slow the flow by lowering the syringe, or speed the flow by raising the syringe.

6. Allow the formula to flow into the feeding tube until gone (about 20 to 30 minutes).16

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7. Turn on the pump and set the flow rate.

8. Start the pump.

9. After the feeding container is empty or dose has been fed, stop the pump.

10. If your health care professional has told you to give extra water after feedings, pour the prescribed amount into the container. Start the pump.

11. When the water is gone, stop the pump.

After each pump feeding:

• Flush the feeding tube as recommended by your health care professional.

Throw away container andfeeding set every 24 hours.Ask your health care professional about care of the container and feedingset between feedings.

Pump FeedingIn pump feeding, a pump moves theformula through the feeding tube andinto the stomach or small intestine. Ifyour child has a feeding tube that goesinto the small intestine (NJ or J), youmust use a pump to deliver formula at a slow, continuous feeding rate. This isbecause the small intestine cannot holdas much formula as the stomach.

Before each pump feeding:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Check tube placement.

3. Check the residual if recommendedby your health care professional.

4. Flush the feeding tube asrecommended by your health care professional.

Follow these steps:

1. Hang the filled feeding containeror place it in an ambulatory carrier.

2. Connect the feeding set to the pump.

3. Remove the cap from the end of the feeding set.

4. Prime the feeding set.

5. Insert the tip of the feeding set into the feeding tube.

6. If your feeding set has a clamp, open it completely.

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Call your health care professional if thereare signs of infection or skin problems:

• Redness or rash

• Swelling

• Pain or soreness

• Unusual drainage

If your child has a gastrostomy tubewith a balloon bumper, check theballoon every 7 to 10 days to make surethat it has enough water in it. This willhelp prevent leakage of stomachcontents and accidental tube removal.

To check balloon volume:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Place a syringe in the balloon inflation valve.

3. Hold the tube in place and remove the water from the balloon.

4. Refill balloon with amount of water recommended for your child’s tube. (See Care Plan.) If stomach contents leak around tube, add water 1 mL at a time, up to the maximum balloon fill volume, until leakage stops.

21

Tube Site CareTo help prevent infection and otherproblems (such as hypergranulationtissue around the stoma site), keep theskin around your child’s feeding tubeclean and dry, and avoid pressure.

G and J-Tubes: Care of the StomaFollow these steps at least once each day:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Clean skin with a clean cloth and soap and water. Start at the tube and work outward in circles.

3. Clean under the skin disk or external hub with cotton swab and soap and water.

4. Rinse with warm water and allow to dry completely.

5. If your health care professional has told you to use a dressing, change it every day or right away if it becomes wet or soiled.

6. The external hub or skin disk should not be tight against your child’s skin. Make sure the tube turns all the way around freely and moves up and down slightly (about 1/4 inch).

General Care

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7. Wrap one end of the tape and then the other around the tube until all the tape is used.

8. Place another piece of tape on top of the tape on the nose.

9. Place the tube on the side of the face that the tube enters your child’s nose. Be sure the tube doesn’t rub against your child’s nose or pull on the nostril.

10. Tape the tube to your child’s cheek. Tape it to a different place each time.

11. After taping, put the tube over your child’s ear to keep it out of the way.

NG and NJ-Tubes: Care of the NoseFollow these steps at least once each day:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Moisten a cotton swab with warm water and clean the edges of both nostrils.

3. Apply a water-based lubricant, like K-Y® Jelly, to the nostril around the tube if you wish.

Call your health care professional if thenostril is red or bleeding or if your childsays it feels numb.

Change the tape on your child’s tubeevery other day or more often if it’sloose. Use only tape marked“hypoallergenic” and “easy to remove.”

To change tape:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Hold the tube in place and gently remove the old tape.

3. Wash the skin with soap and warm water.

4. Rinse and dry thoroughly.

5. Cut or tear a long piece of tape halfway down the center.

6. Place the wide part of the tape on the bridge of the nose.

22K-Y is not a trademark of Abbott Laboratories.

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• Use liquid medications whenpossible.

• If your child’s medication only comesas a tablet, crush the tablet into a finepowder. Mix well with warm water.DO NOT crush enteric-coated tablets,timed-release tablets, or capsules.

• Use a 30-mL or larger syringe to flushthe feeding tube as recommended byyour health care professional.

• Use a 30-mL or larger syringe togive medications through thefeeding tube.

• Give one medication at a time.DO NOT mix medications together.

• DO NOT add medications tothe formula or container.

Mouth CareYour child might not be able to eat ordrink, but good mouth care is stillimportant.

• Brush your child’s teeth, gums, and tongue with a toothbrush and a

small amount of toothpaste at least twice a day.

• Rinse with water as needed to freshen the mouth.

• If your child’s mouth or lips are dry,ask your health care professional torecommend a lip balm or moistener.

Call your health care professional ifyou notice bleeding or other mouthproblems.

Giving MedicationsYou may have to give your childmedications through the feeding tube.Ask your pharmacist or health careprofessional if medications should begiven on a full or empty stomach. If your child has a J-tube, ask if the medications will work properly since they will not go into the stomach.

Follow the guidelines at right to helpprevent tube clogging when givingmedications.

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DiarrheaDiarrhea may be more serious in small children and infants than in adults because it can cause dehydration quickly. See page 31 to find out when tocall your health care professional. If yourchild has stomach cramps or a feeling offullness, wait 30 to 60 minutes beforestarting a feeding.

Diarrhea can be caused by:

• Medications

• Nutrients that do not get absorbedwell in the intestines

• Feeding formula too fast

• Formula that is not mixed correctly

• Spoiled or contaminated formula

• Contaminated tube-feeding equipment

To stop diarrhea, your health careprofessional might suggest:

• Changing medications

• Feeding formula more slowly

• Replacing the formula with water oran electrolyte solution for a short time

• Changing to a formula with fiber or to a different formula

• Reviewing formula preparation

• Reviewing care of tube-feedingequipment

ConstipationTube feeding may result in fewer, harderstools. If your child has hard stools thatare difficult to pass, he or she may haveconstipation. Constipation can makeyour child feel full and uncomfortable,and it can cause a loss of appetite.

To help prevent constipation:

• Encourage your child to use thebathroom as soon as he or she feelsthe need to go.

• Let your child exercise and be asactive as possible.

• Write down the time of your child’sbowel movements so you will be ableto notice when something is wrong.

If your child has a problem withconstipation, talk to your health careprofessional to see if your child is gettingenough fluids, needs a formula withfiber, or needs a change in medications.

ManagingProblems

26 27

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Clogged TubeIf your child’s feeding tube gets cloggedor blocked:

1. Place a 30-mL or larger syringe intothe feeding tube. Gently pull back on the syringe plunger and remove as much fluid as possible. Take out the syringe and throw fluid away.

2. Insert a syringe with 10 mL of warm water into the tube. Gently move the plunger back and forth to clear the clog. Do not force waterinto the tube.

3. If the clog does not clear, clamp the tube for 5 to 15 minutes. Unclamp the tube and repeat step 2.

If you still cannot clear the clog, call yourhealth care professional. The feedingtube will have to be replaced if it cannotbe unclogged.

Out-of-Place TubeIf your child’s feeding tube comes out,go to the hospital emergency room toget it replaced right away. It is veryimportant to get G or J-tubes replacedbefore the stoma starts to close. Do nottry to replace the tube yourself unlessyou have been taught how by yourchild’s health care professional.

29

DehydrationDehydration means that the body needsmore water. Diarrhea, vomiting, fever,certain medications, or simply notgetting enough water can causedehydration.

Some signs of dehydration are:

• Increased thirst

• Dry lips

• Dry and warm skin

• Rapid weight loss

• Weakness

• Fever

• Small amounts of dark, strong-smelling urine

To prevent dehydration:

• Give extra water after or betweenfeedings as prescribed by your healthcare professional.

• Ask your health care professionalif your child’s medications cancause dehydration.

• Call your health care professional ifyour child has a fever or diarrhea.Ask if you should give your childmore water, or change the feedingschedule or formula. If fever ordiarrhea continues, call your healthcare professional.

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Call your health care professional ifyour child has:

• Feeding tube out of place, eithercompletely or partially

• Choking or difficulty breathing

• Upset stomach that lasts 24 hours

• Vomiting

• Signs of dehydration

• Unusual weakness

• Fever

• Blood in or around the feeding tube

• Creamy, bad-smelling drainage fromthe stoma

• Formula or stomach contents leakingaround the tube site

• Red, sore, or swollen tube site

• Tube clog that you can’t flush outwith warm water

• Diarrhea that lasts _____ days

• Constipation that lasts _____ days

• Residual more than _____ mL

• Weight loss or gain of more than_____ pounds in a week, or_____ ounces in a day

• Anything that makes you stopfeeding for more than _____ hours

• Other

_________________________________

_________________________________

When To Call for Help

31

If the feeding tube comes outcompletely:

• Go to your hospital emergency room.

• Take the feeding tube with you.

If your child’s feeding tube is partiallyout of place:

• Do not use the feeding tube.

• Check how much the tube is out ofplace; compare its markings to yourrecords.

• Tape your child’s feeding tube to hisor her skin to prevent furthermovement.

• Call your health care professional and get help as soon as possible.

Always feel free to call your

health care professional if you

are worried about your child’s

condition. You may also want

to write down questions to ask

your child’s health care

professional at the next

checkup or visit.

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jejunum: the second part of the small intestine

nasogastric (NG) tube: a feeding tube that goes from the nose to thestomach

nasojejunal (NJ) tube: a feeding tube that goes from the nose to thejejunum

Nissen fundoplication: a surgical procedure to help keep food orformula from coming back into the esophagus from the stomach

nutrients: parts of food that nourish the body (protein, carbohydrate,fat, vitamins, minerals, and water)

PEG (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy): a way to place a feedingtube into the stomach through the abdominal wall

PEJ (percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy): a way to place a feedingtube into the jejunum through a gastrostomy tube

pump feeding: feeding method in which a mechanical pump movesformula through the feeding tube

residual: formula from the last feeding that is still in the stomach atthe next feeding

small intestine: the part of the digestive tract between the stomachand large intestine that digests and absorbs nutrients

stethoscope: an instrument used to listen to sounds inside the body

stoma: opening in the abdominal wall through which a gastrostomytube or jejunostomy tube enters the body

stomach: organ between the esophagus and small intestine that holdsfood during the early part of digestion

syringe: a hollow, plastic tube with a plunger used to draw fluid outof or inject fluid into a feeding tube

syringe feeding: feeding method in which formula flows from asyringe into the feeding tube or is injected into the feeding tubewith a syringe

33

abdominal wall: skin and body tissue that protects the organs of thedigestive system

aspiration: method to check tube placement by using a syringe towithdraw stomach contents through the feeding tube

auscultation: method to verify tube placement by using a stethoscopeto listen for sounds made by air injected into the stomach throughthe feeding tube

constipation: bowel movements that don’t happen very often or hardstools that are painful or difficult to pass

continuous feeding: tube feeding where the formula drips slowly, allday or all night (or both)

decompression: removing air or fluid from the stomach

dehydration: condition in which the body does not have enoughwater

diarrhea: frequent loose, watery bowel movements

electrolyte: a nutrient (such as sodium, potassium, or chloride) thathelps regulate cell and organ function

esophagus: muscular tube leading from the mouth to the stomach

feeding tube: a tube into the stomach or small intestine through whichformula is given

formula: a liquid nutritional product that has the same nutrients asregular food

gastrostomy (G) tube: a feeding tube that goes into the stomachthrough a stoma

gravity feeding: feeding method in which formula drips downthrough the feeding tube from a container placed above the patient

hypergranulation tissue: extra tissue that grows around the stoma

intermittent (bolus) feeding: feeding method in which formula is given3 to 8 times a day

jejunostomy (J) tube: a feeding tube that goes into the small intestine

Glossary

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61709-001/JULY 2004 LITHO IN USA

Trust Ross forYour Home

Tube FeedingNeeds

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