A mic-key button is a gastrostomy tube that rests against the skin, and is held inside the stomach by a balloon on the inside inflated with water. It can easily be changed at home by a parent or carer.
www.mic-key.com
Again, talk to your doctor about how often to change the button, how much water to inflate the balloon with, and get a nurse to show you before you try it yourself.
- New Mic key button feeding tube and extension tube
- 2 x 10ml syringes
- 1 plastic cup
- (Surgical tape)
- Surgical gloves
- lubricant that is not poisonous when eaten
- Antiseptic wipes
1. Insert the syringe into the side-channel of the tube and inflate the balloon. Check there are no dents or leaks. Withdraw the water from the balloon again.
2. Insert the syringe into the side-channel of the tube currently in place and withdraw the water. Discard the old water into the plastic cup.
3. Gently but quickly remove the old button from the site and discard water, button and used syringe. Clean again around the area with an antiseptic wipe
4. Cover the end of the new button in lubricant. Plop the button quickly but carefully all the way into the hole in the stomach.
6. Inflate the balloon. Gently tug on the button to check for resistance – it should feel like it’s firmly in place, but do not tug more than is needed to feel a slight resistance.
7. If desired, lock the extension tube into place on the button and tape down to skin to prevent tugging. If this is not wanted, leave the tube as it is, without gauze, allowing for better breathability and less skin growth (or granulosa tissue) around the button.
8. If the extension tube is left in place, take the 10ml syringe and suck a little stomach contents up to the top of the tube to get rid of any air. Then administer water through the extension tube, clearing it of stomach contents and keeping air bubbles out. Close off the end of the extension tube.
Venting and Flushing
This is usually done just after a tube, six times a day if on a continual drip feed, and at least every eight hours when not in use. It prevents air being trapped in the stomach, and the tube getting clogged. You will need:
- One 60ml syringe
- About 30ml of water
- Extension tube
Pull the plunger of the 60ml syringe up to the 10ml mark - this prevents any stomach contents from remaining in the tube afterwards. Attach the extension tube and put the syringe nozzle into the valve. Draw contents of stomach slowly up the tube to about 30ml. If just loose bubbles appear, keep drawing the plunger up all the way to the top, removing the syringe, discarding the air, pushing the plunger back to the 10ml mark, reattaching it to the tube and pulling up slowly until liquid begins to appear. Once liquid appears, pull up very slowly to about 30ml. When you let go of the tube and the plunger slips back down on its own, this shows the stomach is empty. Return the liquid to the stomach, detach the syringe from the tube, fill the syringe to about 30ml of water, reattach it to the tube and flush the water down the tube into the stomach. Then detach the syringe from the extension tube, and finally, if required, detach the extension tube.
Cleaning the Tube
This should be done at least twice a day. You will need:
- a bowl
- some TCP
- some warm water
- some cotton wool balls
Wash hands.
Fill the bowl with warm water and a few ml of TCP. Soak a cotton wool ball in the water, and clean around the tube until any liquid or dirt is gone. Dispose of the water
Move the tube up and down to stop the balloon from sticking to the stomach. Rotate the tube 360 degrees to stop it sticking to the tunnel in to the stomach.
Pat dry
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