22nd August 2024

A 75-year-old man was admitted to the stroke unit following a right-sided haemorrhage which resulted in him having an unsafe swallow

A 75-year-old man was admitted to the stroke unit following a right-sided haemorrhage which resulted in him having an unsafe swallow. During his time on the stroke unit his swallow remains unsafe and a decision to insert a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is made with the patient’s consent. Following the procedure, the patient is taken for a chest x-ray which shows a small amount of air visible under the diaphragm but clear lung fields. You examine the patient on the ward and his observations are as follows: heart rate 80 bpm, respiration rate 14 per minute, saturations 98% on air, blood pressure 134/84 mmHg and temperature 36.9 degrees Celsius. He is alert and comfortable. There are no added heart sounds, his chest is clear with good air entry throughout and his abdomen is soft and non tender with bowel sounds present. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

Select the SINGLE most appropriate option from the list below. Select ONE option only.