Does anyone know how many sizes and types of NG tubes there are? There must be a range of types and sizes as I have heard them talked about in the background.
First three experienced nurses tried and failed to fit tubes.
Then a lovely lady with specialist experience of fitting (fathead) tubes with lights and a camera in the end tried four times and failed.
Then radiology were tasked with fitting a tube under xray guidance.
Hi.
Adult NG tubes are usually 12 - 18 Fr gauge with the narrowest being preferred for feeding.
They come in PVC which is really stiff, Polyurethane which is less so and silicone which is soft. They can be radioluscent or radio opaque I had a 12g silicone one with a weighted tip so it didn’t need a guide wire. These tubes have length markers and when I had mine fitted the dietician simply held it up against me to get the length then after pushing it up my nose I was given a glass of water to swallow it down.
It sounds like you might have a PVC one which is clearly not suitable for you.
It all sounds so hit and miss. I hope you get sorted
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Thank you Beesuit. That info is very helpful. After googling this issue I am pretty sure I have the wrong size and type of tube.
Unfortunately I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. They don’t seem to know what they are doing.
Can you get onto a dietician tomorrow ? They should be able to sort you out pretty quickly.
Let us know how you get on.
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
