Nasojejunal Feeding Guide
Information for patients
NHS Lanarkshire Nutrition and Dietetic Department
PIL.NASOJE.61587.L
Nasojejunal Feeding
You are currently unable to take enough food and fluid by mouth to meet your nutritional needs or you may be unable to take any food or fluids by mouth at all. The nasojejunal feeding tube will enable you to meet your nutritional needs by feeding you directly into the jejunum (small bowel).
Care of the Nasojejunal feeding Tube
Effective care of your tube is vital for your well being. The aim is to prevent your tube blocking.
To prevent your tube getting blocked it is important to flush with 30 – 60mls of cooled boiled water before and after your feed and four hourly when you are not feeding.
If you give medication down your tube it must preferably be in a liquid or dispersible form, please discuss this with your pharmacist. Always check that your medication can be given by the jejunal route by contacting your pharmacist. And remember to flush your tube before and after medication with 30 – 60 mls of cooled boiled water.
If several medications are going down the tube, flush with 5 –10mls cooled boiled water between each one.
Trouble Shooting Guide
| Problem | Possible Cause | Solution |
|
Tube will not flush. |
|
If all of the above are unsuccessful contact your feeding company nurse or health professional. |
|
GI problems e.g. nausea and vomiting Diahorrea. Constipation. |
|
|
|
Gastric Reflux |
|
|
|
If feeding tube comes out or dislodged. |
 |
Contact your health professional to arrange for readmission to have tube re-inserted. |
Instructions on using your syringe
- The syringes you have been given can be reused for up to seven days.
- Clean your syringe straight after use.
- Fill a bowl with hot soapy water.
- Clean the end of the syringe by drawing the water in and out through the syringe till all traces of food or medicine are removed from the tip.
- Separate the two parts of the syringe and wash them.
- Then rinse them in water under the cold tap.
- Shake off the excess water and dry with a clean paper towel. Tapping the end of the syringe on a clean paper towel will dislodge any water that maybe still in the tip of the syringe.
- Store the syringe, still separated in a clean dry container.
- Put the syringe back together when you need to use it.
- You will usually be given one syringe for medicine and one for flushing cooled boiled water through your tube.
- If while you are using your syringe it becomes stiff or difficult to use, If you can see any damage to the syringe or the markings become unclear you should throw it away and start to use a new one.
Pub. date: August 2020
Review date: August 2022
Issue No: 07
Reference: PIL.NASOJE.61587.L
20_07609
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