You may need to check your weight daily or weekly. Keep a record of your weights and bring it to your follow-up visits. Your healthcare provider may need to change your feedings if your weight changes too quickly.
Instructed patient you may need to keep track of how much formula and other liquids you have each day. You may also need to keep track of how much you urinate and how many times you have a bowel movement each day. Bring this record to your follow-up visits.
Instructed patient to check for redness and swelling in the area where the tube goes into your body. Check for fluid draining from your stoma (the hole where the tube was put in).
Instructed patient keep the skin around your PEG tube dry. This will help prevent skin irritation and infection.
Instructed patient f the blockage does not clear, clamp the tube for at least 5-15 minutes, allowing the warm water to soften the clog.
SN instructed patient / caregiver to always flush your PEG tube before and after each use. This helps prevent blockage from formula or medicine. Use at least 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of water to flush the tube. Follow directions for flushing your PEG tube. If the PEG tube becomes clogged, try to unclog it as soon as you can. Flush your PEG tube with a 60 ml syringe filled with warm water. Never use a wire to unclog the tube. A wire can poke a hole in the tube. Your healthcare provider may have you use a special medicine or a plastic brush to help unclog your tube.
SN instructed patient/PCG on aspiration as the most common complication related to tube feeding. SN explained that this occurs when food is actually inhaled into the lungs (can lead to pneumonia), but if patient is kept upright during feeding, this complication can be greatly minimized.
Instructed patient call your doctor if the following persist: diarrhea, constipation, nausea, or dehydration, call your doctor if you have redness, pain, swelling, or unusual drainage at the stoma site.
Instructed caregiver when to Call the doctor: If you have choking or difficulty breathing during a feeding, stop the feeding and call your doctor immediately.If you cannot unclog your tube, call your doctor immediately.
Caregiver instructed about feeding and tube care to prevent a clogged feeding tube, flush your tube with water each time after giving a feeding or medication. If your feeding tube becomes clogged, you can use these methods: Place the syringe into your feeding tube, and pull back on the plunger. Flush your tube with warm tap water.