Description

The MIC-KEY Low Profile Balloon Gastrostomy Feeding Tube, distributed by Ballard Medical Products through Kimberly-Clark / Avanos, is a specialized medical device designed for patients requiring long-term enteral feeding. Its discreet, low-profile design sits comfortably at skin level, making it suitable for neonates, children, teens, and adults who cannot tolerate oral feeding or need gastric decompression.

Key Features

• Internal Retention Balloon: Secures the tube within the stomach, inflated with sterile or distilled water.
• Anti-Reflux Valve: Integrated into the feeding port to prevent leakage of stomach contents.
• Radiopaque Stripe: Allows for radiographic confirmation of placement.
• Recessed Distal Tip: Minimizes risk of mucosal injury.

Made from medical-grade silicone, the tube is latex-free, sterile, and intended for single use. It is also MR Conditional, safe for MRI under specific conditions.

Configurations

Available in various sizes, the tube offers outer diameters ranging from 12 to 24 French, with stoma lengths from 0.8 cm to 5.0 cm. Balloon fill volumes range from 3 ml to 10 ml, and connector types include Catheter Tip or ENFit. Some models feature a medication port, and specialized Gastro-Jejunal (GJ) and Jejunal (J) tubes are available for specific clinical needs.

Accessories

Each kit may include:

• 6 ml Luer slip syringe
• 35 ml enteral feeding syringe
• 12-inch bolus and continuous feed extension sets
• Gauze pad
• Water-soluble lubricant
• Insertion stylet (in some kits)

Maintenance

Daily cleaning of the tube and stoma site with mild soap and water is recommended. The tube should be rotated daily to prevent skin adherence, and extension sets should be flushed with water before and after feedings. Balloon volume should be checked weekly, and extension sets replaced every few weeks.

Use Instructions

Extension sets attach securely via SECUR-LOK or ENFit connectors and should be removed after use. Feeds can be administered using a syringe, feeding bag, or pump, with medications given in liquid form or as approved solids. Tube placement should be checked regularly, and decompression can be performed using the extension sets.

Safety Precautions

The device is single-use only and should not be reused or resterilized. Package integrity must be confirmed before use, and contraindications such as ascites or portal hypertension should be considered. Potential complications include skin breakdown, leakage, infection, and tube blockage. Excessive force should not be used to clear blockages, and enteric-coated medications should not be crushed.

Additional Considerations

The MIC-KEY tube is designed to minimize interference with normal activities, such as crawling in infants or physical activity in older patients. Extension sets and tubes are not interchangeable with other brands, and a spare tube should always be available for emergencies.