Nurse Led Blind Insertion of Naso Jejunal Tube in PICU, Paediatrics (262)

Objectives

To provide a clear rationale for the blind insertion of jejunal tubes in critical care
To provide procedural guidance on the blind bedside placement technique for jejunal feeding tubes within paediatric critical care.
To ensure that recommendations from recent patient safety notices are adhered to (NPSA, 2011 and 2012)

This guideline should be interpreted in conjunction with the NHSGGC PICU Guideline on Administration of Medication via Enteral Feeding Tubes and NHSGGC PICU Guideline for Introducing and Establishing Enteral Nutrition in PICU.

Scope

This guideline applies to all patients in paediatric critical care (PICU/HDU). (Exclusion criteria are outlined in the procedure algorithm).

Audience

All healthcare professionals in paediatric critical care involved in the blind insertion of jejunal feeding tubes should be familiar with this guideline.

Summary

Optimal provision of nutrition support and accurate assessment of energy expenditure should be an integral component of paediatric critical care (Mehta et al, 2009a). Nutritional status has a profound effect on metabolic response to injury and strongly affects patient outcome (Mitchell et al, 1994) including length of ventilated days and PICU stay (Larsen et al, 2008).

Providing nutritional care in critically ill children is challenging since fluid restrictions, digestive intolerance and interruptions in nutritional feed delivery for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are common (Lambe et al, 2007) and result is a failure to deliver estimated energy requirements (Cohen et al 2000 and de Neef et al, 2007). With no commonly accepted guidelines for nutritional management in PICU available (Van der Kuip et al, 2004) and a lack of systemic research and clinical trails in PICU, compiling evidence based guidelines is challenging (Mehta et al, 2009b).

Elevated gastric residual volumes (GRV) are associated with sedation and catecholamine use (Mentec et al, 2001) and in paediatric patients are often attributed to gastric paresis. Although, McClave et al (2005) state that GRVs are inherently flawed, as they have yet to be validated, current paediatric evidence suggests that a GRV > 5ml/kg can be considered to be an indicator of poor feed tolerance and delayed gastric emptying (Cobb et al, 2004 and Horn et al, 2004).

A number of studies in adult patients have advocated the use of prokinetics to aid gastric motility (Cohen et al, 2000 and McClave et al 2005) however, no studies have analysed the efficacy of prokinetics in critically ill children (Lopez-Herce, 2009). It is therefore, advocated not to delay commencement of jejunal feeding in those with delayed gastric emptying in order to trial prokinetics. This is supported by a study by Gharpure et al (2001) which concluded erythromycin did not facilitate post-pyloric tube placement.

Enteral nutrition is always the preferred route for artificial feeding in critically ill children and naso-jejunal feeding offers a safe and effective alternative to parenteral nutrition for patients, in whom gastric feeding is poorly tolerated, including post-op cardiac patients (McDermott et al, 2007 and Sachez et al, 2006). Unlike gastric feeding, jejunal feeding avoids fasting times for many procedures, including endotracheal extubation thereby, ensuring energy delivery and reducing the risk of protein energy malnutrition (Jacobs et al, 1999).

Jejunal tubes have traditionally been avoided as they have been notoriously difficult to place, often requiring endoscopic or radiological guidance (Meyer et al, 2007). However, blind placement techniques have now been shown to be up to 95% successful within the PICU population (Joffe et al, 2000, Spalding et al, 2000 and Meyer et al 2007), with associated benefits to patient outcome and financial savings for health care authorities.

Algorithm for blind bedside jejunal insertion

Procedure for blind nasojejunal tube (NJT) placement

1) EQUIPMENT and INITIAL PROCEDURE

2) Procedure - Gastric Placement

Procedure - Gastric Placement

3) PROCEDURE - JEJUNAL PLACEMENT

PROCEDURE - JEJUNAL PLACEMENT

4) General Notes

General Notes

Guidance notes for measuring nasojejunal tube length

Figure 1: Nasojejunal tube length measurement

Notes:

Measurement should be made using a disposable tape measure
Measure from nose – ear – xiphisternum – right lower abdomen (right iliac crest)
Note measurement at xiphisternum and right lower abdomen
Use a Merck Corflo NJ tube with guidewire of appropriate length. If <8kg use 6Fr, >8Kg use 8Fr, older children may require a 10Fr.

Nursing care guideline for nasojejunal feeding tube

CARE OUTCOMES:

To maintain nutrition and hydration
To prevent potential complications – tube blockage, tube misplacement, aspiration and accidental removal

Nursing care	Rationale
1. Ensure procedure documentation is completed on CIS, including the insertion date, the size and internal length of the NJ tube.	To prevent infection To prevent displacement
2. Every 4 hours document on CIS the external length of the NJ tube and ensure tube is securely taped.	To prevent displacement
3. Every 4 hours aspirate Naso-gastric tube and test pH as per nasogastric feeding guideline. If milk aspirated, it is probable that NJ tube has migrated back into the stomach, follow the NJ feeding guideline. If no aspirate obtained follow naso-gastric tube feeding guideline. * If NJ tube displacement is suspected (eg. following extubation or vomiting), the following test can be used to confirm placement: Instill 2-10ml air into NJ tube, if unable to aspirate the air the tube is probably in the jejunum. a) If a high volume of air is aspirated (>15ml) NJ tube is likely to be in oesophagus or upper part of stomach. b) If a high volume of secretions (>15ml) NJ tube likely to be in stomach and test pH = 1-4. NB. Drugs such as Ranitidine, Omprezole & Sucralfate will increase gasric pH. If the test is not conclusive seek medical advice. A check X-ray of chest/abdomen maybe required.	To prevent displacement, aspiration and accidental removal. To maintain nutrition and hydration.
4. Strict hand washing is essential. Clean the feeding end with alcohol swabs.	To prevent infection as the NJ tube bypasses the stomach’s anti-infective acid.
5. Pre-packed feeds can be hung for 24 hours. Prepared feeds (and feeds with active ingredients) should be changed every 4 hours and all feeding sets every 24 hours using a non-touch technique.	To prevent infection as the NJ tube bypasses the stomach’s anti-infective acid.
6. Feeds and most drugs are given via the NJ tube. Follow the NJ feeding guideline for type of feed and build up flow rates. Continuous feeds only via NJ tube.	Bolus feeds must not be given through the naso-jejunal tube because the jejunum cannot hold a bolus and it causes abdominal pain, diarrhoea and dumping syndrome.
7. Most medications should be given via the NJ tube. Follow the guideline for NJ medication. NB: flushing with sterile water.	To prevent blockage. To prevent reaction with feed and between drugs.

Problem Solving

PROBLEM SOLVING

RATIONALE

Feed Intolerance

Follow NJ feeding guideline
Check tube position as in section 4.
Inform dietician and discuss feed type and regimen

Diarrhoea may be caused by feed rate being increased too quickly.

Vomiting may be caused by NJ tube migrating into stomach.

Blocked Tube

If tube becomes stiff to flush or blocked, flush with 5-10ml warm sterile water, leave for 15-20 minutes and then flush with sterile water.
If unsuccessful take 10,000 units of Creon capsule, dissolve granules in 10ml Sodium Bicarbonate 8.4%. ensure granules have fully dissolved (takes 3-5min) and then flush 5-10ml into tube. Leave for 15- 20mins and then flush with sterile water.
If unable to unblock arrange for NJ tube to be repassed. See guidelines for passing naso-jejunal feeding tube.

Warm water may dissolve fatty deposits on the tube.

Pancreatic enzymes (Creon) digest the build up of feed on the internal lumen of the NJ tube. Sodium Bicarbonate dissolves the coating on the granules and activates the pancreatic enzymes.

NJ tube should only be placed by a nurse trained to do so.

Displacement of Tube

If the tube is pulled partially out of the nostril, gently push the NJ tube using a slow rotating movement until advanced to the correct length. Re-tape and check position as in section 4.
If tube falls out or becomes damaged replace with the same type and size of NJ tube. See guidelines for passing naso- jejunal tube.

To reposition tube in to the correct position for use.

To replace the tube. NJ tube should only be placed by a nurse trained to do so

Last reviewed: 24/11/2020

Next review date: 30/11/2023

Author(s): Isobel Macleod.

Approved By: Paediatric Clinical Effectiveness & Risk Committee

References

References for nursing guideline

Harrison AM et al (1997) Non-radiological assessment of enteral feeding tube position. Critical Care Medicine. 25 2055-2059.

Joffe A, Grant M, Wong B, Gresuik C (2000) Validation of a blind transpyloric feeding tube placement technique in paediatric intensive care: rapid, simple, and highly successful. Paediatric Critical care Medicine. 1(2) 151-155.

Meyer R, Harrison S, Cooper M, Habibi P (2007) Successful blind placement of nasojejunal tubes in paediatric intensive care: impact of training and audit. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 60(4) 151-155.

McDermott A, Tomkins N, Lazonby G (2007) Nasojejunal tube placement in paediatric intensive care. Paediatric Nursing. 19(2) 26-28.

Sachez C, Lope-Hence J, Carrillo A, Bustinza A, Sancho L and Dolores V (2006) Transpyloric enteral feeding in the postoperative of cardiac surgery children. Journal of Pediatric Surgery 41 1096-1102

Spalding HK, Sullivan KJ, Soremi O, Gonzalez F, Goodwin SR (2000) Bedside placement of transpyloric feeding tubes in the paediatric intensive care unit using gastric insufflation. Critical Care Medicine. 28(6) 2041-2044.

NHS QIS (2007) Caring for children & young people in the community receiving enteral tube feeding. Best Practice Statement. NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.

Other References

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Cohen J, Aharon A and Singer P (2000) The paracetamol absorption test: a useful addition to the enteral nutrition algorithm? Clinical Nutrition 19 (4) 233-236.

Da Silva PS, Paulo CS, de Oliveira Iglesias SB et al. (2002) Bedside transpyloric tube placement in the pediatric intensive care unit: a modified insufflation air technique. Intensive Care Medicine, 28(7): 943-6.

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