| Problem | Possible cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Your feeding tube is clogged. | You may not be using enough water when you flush your tube. You may also not be flushing your feeding tube often enough. | Use a syringe filled with warm water to flush your tube. Gently massage your tube to help remove the clog. If massaging does not remove the clog, call your doctor.
Note: If you have a feeding tube with an ENFit® connection, you must use an ENFit syringe to access your feeding tube. If you do not have a feeding tube with an ENFit connection, you must use a catheter-tipped syringe to access your feeding tube. These syringes are not interchangeable, so please be sure which type of connection your feeding tube has. |
| You accidentally removed your feeding tube. | Your balloon lost water, or your tube got caught on something. | Immediately call your doctor and go to the hospital emergency room. Take your feeding tube with you. |
| Fluid is leaking around your tube. | Your tube pulled away from your abdomen wall, or your stoma got larger. | Call your doctor. |
| The area around your stoma is red or painful. | You could be having an inflammatory reaction to your tube, or your stomach contents may be leaking. Note: You may have an infection or may be getting one. | Clean the stoma site according to your doctor’s instructions, watch your symptoms closely, and call your doctor. |
| The length of the feeding tube that is outside of your body has changed. | Your tube or bolster may have moved out of position. | Call your doctor. Your doctor may recommend that you stop feeding, tape the tube to your skin, and come in to your doctor’s office for a replacement feeding tube. |
The ENFit mark is owned by GEDSA and is federally registered in multiple jurisdictions throughout the world. Used with permission.