Which practice is not recommended for maintaining feeding tube patency?

Which practice is not recommended for maintaining feeding tube patency?

• A. Administer medications through feeding tube with 5 mL water
• B. Flush with 30 mL of water every 4 hours
• C. Use a 20 mL or smaller syringe to flush small bore feeding tubes
• D. Change feeding tubes every 72 hours

Answer: (A)

Keeping a feeding tube patent relies on using enough water to dilute and flush medications through the lumen so residues don’t build up. Administering meds with only 5 mL of water falls short of that goal. The small volume is unlikely to fully dissolve or move the drug, increasing the risk of precipitation or residue lining the tube, which can lead to occlusion and unreliable dosing. That’s why this practice is not recommended. In contrast, flushing with about 30 mL of water at appropriate times helps keep the lumen clear and supports reliable drug delivery. For small-bore tubes, using a very small syringe can create higher pressure and risk tube damage, so a larger syringe is preferred to maintain patency safely.

Keeping a feeding tube patent relies on using enough water to dilute and flush medications through the lumen so residues don’t build up. Administering meds with only 5 mL of water falls short of that goal. The small volume is unlikely to fully dissolve or move the drug, increasing the risk of precipitation or residue lining the tube, which can lead to occlusion and unreliable dosing. That’s why this practice is not recommended. In contrast, flushing with about 30 mL of water at appropriate times helps keep the lumen clear and supports reliable drug delivery. For small-bore tubes, using a very small syringe can create higher pressure and risk tube damage, so a larger syringe is preferred to maintain patency safely.