Enteral Feeding Tube Placement PRINT

Enteral Feeding Tube Placement Protocol

(See DHT reminders at bottom of this page)

I. Equipment (May vary between sites)

a. Corflo 10F enteral feeding tube
b. Lidocaine gel
c. 5mL luer lock syringe for gel
d. HurriCaine One- Benzocaine oral anesthetic (if available)
e. 60mL luer lock syringe
f. Saline flush
g. Guidewire 180cm (Coons or Roadrunner) (open when needed)
h. Gastrografin (only when necessary)
i. Nasal attachment, silk tape or bridle (bridle requests must be included with order)
i. Scissors and hemostat for bridle placement (open and close clip several times before placing)
j. Alcohol pads
k. Adhesive remover

II. Personnel

a. Radiologist/RA

i. Responsible for administering contrast and taking spot images

b. Hospital Technologist

i. Prints order for radiologist/RA review
ii. Documents patient history and pregnancy status prior to exam
iii. Assists the radiologist or fluoroscopy technologist during procedure
iv. Provides patient and floor nurse with aftercare instructions

III. Procedure

a. Flush feeding tube with saline
b. Inject lidocaine gel in patients nare (administer Cetacaine PRN)
c. Cover the end of the feeding tube with lidocaine gel
d. Under fluoroscopic guidance- manipulate feeding tube through stomach into the small intestine (preferably with tip past the ligament of treitz)
e. Secure tube to patients nose with nasal attachment, silk tape or nasal bridle (if ordered)
f. Remove wire

IV. Required Images

a. KUB or fluoro screen capture – feeding tube placement with air contrast

V. Special Considerations

a. Nasal bridles to be placed by order only
b. Follow contrast allergy protocol before administering Gastrografin

 

Reminders about DHT placement:
  • Include an image of the proximal DHT in patients throat to verify the tube is not coiled.
  • Remove stylet and flush tube to verify patency before sending patient back to floor.
  • Do not tie bridle threads around the DHT! The bridle clip holds the tied bridle loop and DHT tube together. When you open the clip, you should be able to replace the tube and keep the bridle in place.
Video references:
Nasal Bridle Placement Walkthrough (youtube.com)
https://youtu.be/zrDDldtGvTQ