What is the purpose of checking residual before giving a bolus tube feeding?

To make sure your stomach empties correctly, your doctor or dietitian may ask you to check your residual before each feeding. If your feeding formula has not moved through your stomach before your next feeding, you may have nausea, bloating or vomiting.

What is a tube feeding bolus?

About Tube Feeding The bolus method is a type of feeding where a syringe is used to send formula through your feeding tube. The syringe you’ll use is called a catheter syringe. A catheter syringe doesn’t have a needle. It has a hole with a plunger in it.

What do you do when gastric residuals are high?

AN APPROACH TO GASTRIC RESIDUAL VOLUMES

1. Replace all of the aspirate up to 500ml, discard the rest and flush with 10ml of water.
2. Commence metoclopramide IV 10mg q6h together with erythromycin IV 200mg bd for 24 – 72hrs.
3. Continue with EN at TARGET rate.
4. Continue to monitor GRV q6h.

When do you check residual for bolus tube feeding?

If using a PEG tube, measure residual every 4 hours (if residual is more than 200 ml or other specifically ordered amount, hold for one hour and recheck; if it still remains high, notify doctor). If using a PEG tube, reinstall residual.

Why do you not check residual on G tube?

The theory is that patients with larger residuals will be at greater risk for vomiting, subsequent aspiration, and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The downside of this monitoring is that tube feeds often are withheld when residuals are large, which results in inadequate nutrition.

Do you flush before checking residual?

When to flush your tube: Always flush the tube before and after checking residuals, before and after giving formula, and before and after each medication. 3. Follow these steps: • Attach a 50-60cc syringe (with water) to your feeding tube.

When do you stop tube feeding residuals?

If using a PEG tube, measure residual every 4 hours (if residual is more than 200 ml or other specifically ordered amount, hold for one hour and recheck; if it still remains high, notify doctor). If using a PEG tube, reinstall residual. Hang tube feeding (no more than 8 hours’ worth if in bag set up).

How often should gastric residuals be checked?

Current enteral practice recommendations state that GRV should be checked every four hours during the first 48 hours of gastric feeding and, after that, every six to eight hours for patients who are not critically ill.

How much residual is too much for tube feeding?

If the gastric residual is more than 200 ml, delay the feeding. Wait 30 – 60 minutes and do the residual check again. If the residuals continue to be high (more than 200 ml) and feeding cannot be given, call your healthcare provider for instructions.