Nausea Resolved in 20 Minutes Without the Oral Route

Since the oral route was no longer effective, we had to figure out another route of medication delivery to get the patient comfortable. We decided the try the Macy Catheter.

Kay

Registered Nurse, South Georgia

Kay’s Nursing Background and Introduction to the Macy Catheter

My name is Kay and I have been a nurse since 1998. I have a wide variety of nursing experience in the ICU, emergency, operating room and home care settings.

I’ve been doing hospice nursing for three years. Sometimes, we are unable to get patients as comfortable as we would like if they cannot swallow oral medications.

We recently had an in-service about the Macy Catheter, so I was excited to use it and see if it really worked as well as it did in some of the stories I heard.

Intestinal Obstruction Renders Patient Miserable

I was the on-call nurse for a 73 year-old male patient diagnosed with an intestinal obstruction related to a malignant colon polyp.

Initially, he was able to swallow medications, but within a few days he could not take oral medications and vomited within seconds of taking anything,

including sips of water. He had excruciating pain in the lower abdomen rated at 10 on a scale of 0 to 10.

He could not carry on a conversation, was moaning, and needed to lie in the fetal position due to the pain.

Overcoming Rectal Route Stigma

Since the oral route was no longer effective, we had to figure out another route of medication delivery to get the patient comfortable. We decided the try the Macy Catheter.

The patient was concerned about whether or not it would hurt when I put it in. I explained that it was a small tube and would not hurt.

After I inserted the catheter, he asked, ”Is it in yet?”

He did not feel the catheter at all, either during insertion or once it was in. We administered Haldol (1 mg) and liquid morphine (20 mg) and I told him he should have relief very shortly.

Improving Patient Care with the Macy Catheter

Within 20 minutes, he was lying flat, comfortable, and able to sleep. His vomiting and pain stopped. It was amazing to watch. The caregiver, a friend of the family, was also amazed and couldn’t believe how fast it worked.

We both watched him become comfortable in minutes. He was even able to speak and sit up.

It was very easy to use. I showed the caregiver how to give medications.

She was very comfortable with it and grateful that the patient didn’t have to suffer any more pain.

The patient passed peacefully in the next 24 hours. I highly recommend using the Macy Catheter and am planning to continue using the device to improve my practice.

Rectal Catheter Enables Patient to Build Log Cabin While on Hospice Care

Rectal Catheter Enables Patient to Build Log Cabin While on Hospice Care

Rectal Catheter is the Most Dignified Administration Option

Rectal Catheter is the Most Dignified Administration Option

Rectal Catheter Provides More Reliable and Dignified Administration Than Sublingual

Rectal Catheter Provides More Reliable and Dignified Administration Than Sublingual

Rectal Catheter is More Effective Than Pain Pumps & Sublingual

Rectal Catheter is More Effective Than Pain Pumps & Sublingual

Rectal Catheter Decreases Cost & Nursing Time at Unity Hospice

Rectal Catheter Decreases Cost & Nursing Time at Unity Hospice

Hospice Director Champions Rectal Catheter After Device Helps His Mom

Hospice Director Champions Rectal Catheter After Device Helps His Mom

Rectal Catheter Empowers Both Nurses and Families at Unity Hospice

Rectal Catheter Empowers Both Nurses and Families at Unity Hospice

Rectal Catheter Helps Patients Remain in Their Setting of Choice

Rectal Catheter Helps Patients Remain in Their Setting of Choice

A Hospice Nurse Explains How a Rectal Catheter Empowers Nurses

A Hospice Nurse Explains How a Rectal Catheter Empowers Nurses

Rectal Catheter Reduces Cost While Improving Patient Care

Rectal Catheter Reduces Cost While Improving Patient Care

The Rectal Route– More Dignified than Sublingual

The Rectal Route– More Dignified than Sublingual

Navigating a Medication Shortage Using a Rectal Catheter

Navigating a Medication Shortage Using a Rectal Catheter

Rectal Catheter Proves More Effective Than Sublingual Administration

Rectal Catheter Proves More Effective Than Sublingual Administration

Caregiver’s Burden of Care Decreased by Rectal Catheter

Caregiver’s Burden of Care Decreased by Rectal Catheter

Rectal Route Proves Simpler and More Effective Than Oral

Rectal Route Proves Simpler and More Effective Than Oral

How to Introduce a Rectal Catheter to Concerned Caregivers

How to Introduce a Rectal Catheter to Concerned Caregivers

Hospice Nurse Finds Rectal Catheter More Effective Than IV

Hospice Nurse Finds Rectal Catheter More Effective Than IV

VP of Clinical Excellence Advocates for Rectal Catheter

VP of Clinical Excellence Advocates for Rectal Catheter

Patients are willing to try the rectal route. Are nurses?

Patients are willing to try the rectal route. Are nurses?

If Your Patient Can’t Swallow, Try the Rectal Route

If Your Patient Can’t Swallow, Try the Rectal Route

Using a Rectal Catheter Despite Cultural Pushback

Using a Rectal Catheter Despite Cultural Pushback

Trying the Rectal Route Because It Works

Trying the Rectal Route Because It Works

Reduce Medication Waste by Trying the Rectal Route

Reduce Medication Waste by Trying the Rectal Route

Rectal Catheter Allows for More Caregiver Involvement

Rectal Catheter Allows for More Caregiver Involvement

Patient’s wish to receive hydration and remain at home realized by using the Macy Catheter

Patient’s wish to receive hydration and remain at home realized by using the Macy Catheter

Rectal Catheter Allows Patients to Remain in Their Setting of Choice

Rectal Catheter Allows Patients to Remain in Their Setting of Choice

Gastroparesis Patient Controls Her Own Pain and Nausea Using the Macy Catheter

Gastroparesis Patient Controls Her Own Pain and Nausea Using the Macy Catheter

Resolving Status Epilepticus in Minutes and Allowing for Caregiver Involvement at the Bedside

Resolving Status Epilepticus in Minutes and Allowing for Caregiver Involvement at the Bedside

Supporting Families of Distressed Patients and Circumventing Rectal Route Stigma

Supporting Families of Distressed Patients and Circumventing Rectal Route Stigma

Nausea Resolved in 20 Minutes Without the Oral Route

Nausea Resolved in 20 Minutes Without the Oral Route

The More Dignified Way: Pain Controlled in 20 Minutes

The More Dignified Way: Pain Controlled in 20 Minutes

The Easy Route: Distress Controlled in 10 Minutes

The Easy Route: Distress Controlled in 10 Minutes

Want to improve patient care while increasing efficiency at your agency?