med syringe to fit Mic-Key button g-tube

i care for a brother and sister who both each have mic-key buttons for g-tube access. we ran out of syringes that fit into the mic-key button to give meds directly into the g-tube. mom states that the kids' medicaid is no longer paying for such an item (???).

does anyone know a medical supply company that i can obtain 10 cc syringes for giving medication thru the g-tube that actually fits the mic-key button? i've ordered two different types from two different companies and each time the tip of the syringe was too large to fit. my second order, i even talked to a customer service rep who assured me the enteral 10 cc syringe we talked about would fit the mic-key button.

i know i shouldn't have to order supplies like this but mom is dragging her feet about these medication syringes and we really need them so i'm just gonna bite the bullet and buy a supply for the home myself. i just need direction as to what to get.

i even contacted the family's home supply company and they were unable to give me the name and order number for these syringes as they were not listed in their computer. i just don't know how or where to look anymore!!

thanks in advance for your help
I'm confused...if you attach your g-tube line/connector/extension/whatever you want to call it, you can use both the oral syringes and luer-lock IV syringes to draw up your meds and administer them. They both will fit into your medport on your extension. The connector im referring to has both the medport and larger port for administering feeds. If you're referring to 6ml pointed non-luer lock syringe that comes with the kits that are used to inflate the balloons during insertion, i have only seen those in the kits.

I like to give my meds thru the g-tube with a syringe. It seems like some of the meds stick to the sides of the 60 cc g-tube with extension tubing when i give meds that route. Its just my preference is all as an RN.

forgot to mention that Luer-Lock syringes do not fit the Mic-Key button. It has to be a Slip Tip-type syringe.

BD slip tip syringes will work with Mic-Key buttons as we use them all the time at work. They should be able to point you in the right direction on who their distributors are near you. Contact them at: Ask BD

Baxa - Home Baxa is the bomb for syringes. If they made shoes I would wear them.

Quote from KlsgZooI like to give my meds thru the g-tube with a syringe. It seems like some of the meds stick to the sides of the 60 cc g-tube with extension tubing when i give meds that route. Its just my preference is all as an RN.

I love the extensions, think they are a life save at times. But Im not giving those types of meds that stick to everything, so its different. Lordy knows I hate to give the "crushed" version of meds instead of the liquids(especially seizure meds!) But in prefrence, extension work great. Barring that.... ya do what ya gotta do, I have. Getting those meds in is more important than the tools you use, (mainting protocols, of course)

At the peds hospital where I used to work, we always used the extension. The volume wasn't 60 cc, it was about 5cc. So, if the extensions you have are 60 cc, maybe it's just a matter of finding the smaller volume ones?

Quote from ChristineNIt's actually not recommended to give meds straight into the button via a syringe. The high pressure created by a syringe can risk the balloon rupturing prematurely.You should be able to find the Mic-Key G-tube extensions that can fit a syringe on the end. This is supposed to be the safest way to give meds via the Mic-Key.

Quote from skittlebearI agree 100% I knew of a nurse who did this once and the her patient vomited shortly after. Too much pressure not only for the balloon but also for the patient!

Medicaid was paying for these extensions on my last case, within the past month. I do not see how it is expected to administer meds without the proper equipment. I think your supervisor at the office needs to look into the medicaid refusing to pay claim. It does not sound right to me. Perhaps the family could use some assistance with getting the proper equipment. Get your supervisor involved.

it may be too late to help wi_home_rn with the original g-tube question, but for other users, here is the basic info. (you can get most of this info from the literature that comes with each replacement tube, or on various websites.) i have been dealing with enteral feeding for over 10 years. it is not rocket science.1. the mic-key buttons used by many children and adults are designed for direct insertion of "luer" slip tip syringes. for small amounts of medicines and other liquids, this is a common practice in hospitals and at home. manufacturers recommend flushing with 10ml of water, afterward (the cya principal). i have never seen flushing needed, or done by anyone, including me!2. the only type of syringe that will fit is the "luer" "slip-tip" style, because of its geometry. (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/luer_taper) the syringes given to parents by drugstores for administration of liquid meds to infants and young children are not luer syringes, and probably will not work.3. most of the time, large capacity luer syringes will not provide accurate dosages. please use the smallest size possible.4. many drug stores now carry only luer "locking style" syringes. these have a plastic ring around the tip for use with standard iv and other devices. this ring can be cut off with a pair of very strong, sharp scissors, or by tools such as diagonal wire cutters. with practice, you will learn how not to break the syringe!5. in an emergency, tuberculin and allergy syringes will work. naturally, remove the needle!6. one post claimed that too much pressure broke the silicon balloon that holds the tube in place. that was not the reason the balloon broke! the most likely reasons are the button was worn and coincidentally broke, or they were using the balloon's water fill port on the side of the button. if you examine a mic-key, you will see that the balloon surrounds the tube, but is not otherwise connected to it.