Difficulty

Easy

Steps

10

Time Required

                          5 minutes - 2 hours

Sections

1

  • How to Unclog a Feeding Tube
  • 10 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              How to Unclog a Feeding Tube
  • Test your tube. Use a 35ml plunger to test your tube, just to confirm it is clogged.
  • Exert a decent amount of force.

Test your tube. Use a 35ml plunger to test your tube, just to confirm it is clogged.

Exert a decent amount of force.

1024

Step 2

  • Massage the tube. Roll the tubing in between your fingers and “massage” it.
  • The clog may be in the external tubing and doing so may break it up.

Massage the tube. Roll the tubing in between your fingers and “massage” it.

The clog may be in the external tubing and doing so may break it up.

Step 3

  • Switch to a smaller plunger. Start using a 10ml plunger.
  • The smaller the plunger, the more pressure is exerted.

Switch to a smaller plunger. Start using a 10ml plunger.

The smaller the plunger, the more pressure is exerted.

Step 4

  • Flush hot water. Fill your 10ml plunger (and extension tubing, if applicable) with hot water. As hot as you can safely tolerate. Use this to flush your tube.

Flush hot water. Fill your 10ml plunger (and extension tubing, if applicable) with hot water. As hot as you can safely tolerate. Use this to flush your tube.

Step 5

  • Pulsate. Pulsate the 10ml plunger back and forth, in quick motion. This helps to dismantle the clog.

Pulsate. Pulsate the 10ml plunger back and forth, in quick motion. This helps to dismantle the clog.

Step 6

  • Flush a combination of hot water and meat tenderizer. If your tube is still clogged, fill your 10ml plunger (and extension tubing, if applicable) with a combination of hot water and meat tenderizer.
  • The tenderizer is known to break up clogs.

Flush a combination of hot water and meat tenderizer. If your tube is still clogged, fill your 10ml plunger (and extension tubing, if applicable) with a combination of hot water and meat tenderizer.

The tenderizer is known to break up clogs.

Step 7

  • Pulsate. Pulsate the 10ml plunger once again, in a quick motion.

Pulsate. Pulsate the 10ml plunger once again, in a quick motion.

Step 8

  • Flush Coca-Cola. If your tube is still clogged, fill your 10ml plunger (and extension tubing, if applicable) with Coca-Cola. Flush your tube.
  • Regular coke is the best for breaking up clogs due to its carbonation levels.

Flush Coca-Cola. If your tube is still clogged, fill your 10ml plunger (and extension tubing, if applicable) with Coca-Cola. Flush your tube.

Regular coke is the best for breaking up clogs due to its carbonation levels.

Step 9

  • Pulsate, then let Coca-Cola sit. Pulsate the 10ml plunger once again, in a quick motion. If the clog persists, allow the Coke to sit in your tube.
  • You may leave the Coke in your tube for up to one hour.

Pulsate, then let Coca-Cola sit. Pulsate the 10ml plunger once again, in a quick motion. If the clog persists, allow the Coke to sit in your tube.

You may leave the Coke in your tube for up to one hour.

Step 10

  • Test your feeding tube. It should flush easily.

Test your feeding tube. It should flush easily.

The hope is to successfully unclog the feeding tube at home. Of course, always contact your health care physician in times of concern.

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                    Jaquie Beckwith

Member since: 01/23/2018

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                       USF Sarasota-Manatee, Team S1-G1, Stewart Spring 2018                        

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