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Home Care Instructions
Gastrostomy or Jejunostomy Tubes
A gastrostomy tube (GT) or jejunostomy tube
(JT) has been placed in your child. The gastrostomy tube is placed into the child’s
stomach. The jejunostomy tube is placed in the intestines. This tube was placed to help
your child get enough food to grow or to prevent reflux (movement of food back up the
esophagus from the child’s stomach). The dietitian will explain what to feed your
child. A GT may be replaced by a G button (GB) in about four to six weeks. The GT and JT
should be securely attached in place at all times. If you are not sure that the tube is in
place, please don’t use it. Call the office. If the tube falls out, it should be
replaced quickly. Please replace the GT or GB.
Please call the office if any of the following
occur:
- Vomiting
- Change in color of stomach contents
- Increased amount of stomach contents before feeds (residual)
- Increased bowel movements
- If the child becomes increasingly irritable
- If the GT or GB comes out, put it back in, tape it in place
and call the office.
Skin care around the GT or JT:
- Keep the skin around the tube clean and dry.
- A bandage does not have to be put over the area but may be
necessary to keep the child from pulling on the tube.
- A cloth diaper wrapped around a child’s abdomen and
secured with tape works well.
- If the skin around the tube becomes irritated, call the
office.
- Dressing the child in loose-fitting clothes prevents
irritation.Bib-type overalls are preferred to pants. The overalls cover the tube and make
it less likely that the child will play with the tube. The overalls also prevent tight
elastic around the waist that can be irritating.
- Your child may bathe and swim when the pediatric surgery
team releases him to do so.
Equipment
- Liquid food at room temperature in a pour container
- Water to rinse tube gastrostomy
- Any medications to be given
- Syringe
Instructions for Feeding
- Gather all equipment
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
- Count to ten while washing, and then rinse.
- Tell the child (even if infant) what you will be doing.
- Place the child on your lap or reclining in an infant seat,
if possible.
- Make sure the GT or JT is clamped as close to the skin as
possible to allow only a very little air into the tube.
- Attach the syringe with the plunger removed to the GT or JT.
- Unclamp the GT or JT to check for residual.
- Keep a record of residual. Call the office if greater than
one ounce.
- Reclamp.
- Fill the syringe with the right amount of food.
- Unclamp the tube.
- A gentle push with the plunger may be needed to start the
flow of liquid.
- Continue to add liquid until feeding is complete.Do not
allow tube to empty completely.
- Add water to rinse tube then clamp.
- Remove syringe, rinse and store for next feed.
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