Accidently Cut Feeding Tube

[rucknchoy]

My partner has been peg feeding using the gravity method. Recently during showering attempts to cut the tape holding the tube he accidently cut nine inches off the feeding tube. Still being able to use whats left for feeding. Does anyone know of a coupler or repair kit that will extend the feeding tube? Its a 13cm, number 20 french.

[Art]

Hi,

I have no medical training, but I do have a suggestion. Please take my “no medical training” seriously. Point of clarification, is it 13cm or 13mm? If it is 13mm (the outside diameter of the feeding tube), that equals .512 inches (barely over .5 inches). I may be ridiculed by the medical community, but here goes. For 35 cents, you can buy a .5 inch PVC connector at Home Depot. Here’s a link to the part.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/DURA-1-2-in-Schedule-40-PVC-Coupling-C429-005/100342935

Given that the feeding tube is flexible and just slightly larger than the .5 inch coupling, it should provide a tight seal. I would make sure that each end of the tubes (both the one coming out of the stomach and the extension) are cut as close to square as possible. This will minimize the PVC pipe touching the nutrition. Since PVC pipe is used in home plumbing and delivering drinking water, I’m not sure that matters, but why take a chance. Plus, you don’t want nutrition filling in the gap, getting stuck, and eventually generating unwanted bacteria in the tube. This then becomes one more part of the feeding apparatus to keep clean.

I had my tube replaced and understand it is a real PITA. The above might provide a temporary solution until a better one is found or the tube is replaced. Hope this helps. If you do head down this path, I’d be curious if it works.

Take care,
Art

P.S. If this .5 inch part doesn’t fit, look around the PVC coupling area and see if another part would work.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 8 months ago by Art.
• This reply was modified 7 years, 8 months ago by Art.
• This reply was modified 7 years, 8 months ago by Art.
• This reply was modified 7 years, 8 months ago by Art.
• This reply was modified 7 years, 8 months ago by Art.

[rucknchoy]

Hi Art,
Thanks for your thoughts and suggestion. The feeding tube length was what we are trying to couple to extend it.
I may not have copied the correct size from the information of the tubing. From what I understand the diameter is a number 20 french, which is the inside diameter approximately 3/16ths of an inch. My partner being mechanical minded already thought of couplings similar to your suggestion. We were hoping to find a more medically approved coupler designed specifically for the peg tube.
Regards
Chuck

[cologirl1]

The procedure for any trouble with your feeding tube is to contact the people or provider who put it in. They are the ones to contact and will need to advise you. You may need to come in to have the people who put it in look at it. If you stall out on that (can’t remember, can’t find the phone number), please contact your primary care physician and advise him/her of the problem. They will be able to help you!

CCC-SLP, Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (BCS-S)

[Author]

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