How To Flush Remnants Of Food While Having A Gastrostomy Tube?

Posted on Mon, 6 Mar 2017

Question: My Dad is 90 years old and had a feeding tube put in a year ago.
Now there is food formula residual that are permately visible in the tube that is about an inch and a half long. I was worried that this permenent formula residual has turned into bacteria becouse it has been there now for weeks. I have my Dad squeduled to get a new tube tomorrow becouse of my fear of the tube having bacteria from the permenant food residual in the tube.

Did I make a mistake to get a new one by causing an unecesary risk with the procedure

Answered by Dr. Rahul Tawde (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No

Detailed Answer:
Hello, Thank you for posting your question on HealthcareMagic.
This does happen with feeding tube and I presume it is PEG tube right?
The formula feed will not be flushed out completely and the residue remains stuck to the tube eventually blocking it .
Even if you had not decided to go in for an elective replacement you would have had to.go in for it sooner or later.
At 90 any procedure even a naso gastric tube would be equally risky but it has to be done .
Hope this helps
Best wishes

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana