| G/GJ tubes: Permanent feeding tube removal | 3036.00000000000 | G/GJ tubes: Permanent feeding tube removal | G/GJ tubes: Permanent feeding tube removal | G | English | Gastrointestinal;Other | Child (0-12 years);Teen (13-18 years) | Stomach;Abdomen;Small Intestine | Digestive system | Procedures | Adult (19+)
Caregivers | NA | | 2018-12-20T05:00:00Z | | Holly Norgrove, RN, BScN | | | | 7.20000000000000 | 73.3000000000000 | 1114.00000000000 | | Health (A-Z) - Procedure | Health A-Z | <p>Learn how you can help your child prepare for the removal of their G or GJ tube, how to remove the tube at home and care for your child's tract after the feeding tube removal.</p> | <p>A G or GJ tube may be a permanent way to feed some children. For others, it is temporary and may be removed in the future. You and your child’s health-care team will decide when to remove the feeding tube according to your child’s history.</p> | | <h2>Key points</h2><ul><li>Your child must be able to take all their nutrition, fluids, and medications by mouth for at least two to three months before their G tube or GJ tube is removed.</li><li>If your child is scheduled for surgery or a procedure that may affect their ability to take nutrition, fluids, or medication by mouth, you should consider delaying the removal of the tube.</li><li>If your child has a balloon-type tube, you may remove the tube yourself.</li><li>Once the tube is removed, stomach contents will leak from the stoma and will continue to do so until the tract closes completely.</li><li>It may take more than two weeks for the feeding tube tract to heal and close, and it will leak during this time.</li><li>If the stoma is still leaking two weeks after the tube has been removed, call your G tube specialist for further assessment.</li><li>After tube removal, it is important to wash the stoma with soap and water daily to prevent infection. Do not submerge your child in water until the feeding tube tract has stopped leaking.
</li></ul> | | | | | | | | | | <h2>When to see a doctor</h2><p>Always watch for signs of <a href="/article?contentid=2906&language=english">infection</a>, such as redness, swelling, pain, and fever. See your family doctor or paediatrician if your child is experiencing these symptoms.</p><p>If the stoma is still leaking two weeks after the tube has been removed, call your G tube specialist (at SickKids this is the G Tube Resource Nurse) for further assessment. Your child may need stitches to close the tract.</p> | | | | | | | | | | | <h2>Tube removal</h2><p>If your child has a <a href="/article?contentid=2908&language=english">balloon-type tube</a>, you may remove the tube yourself or have your child’s doctor remove it. There are several different balloon-type tubes:<br></p><ul><li>Halyard Mic-G or Kangaroo G tube</li><li>Low-profile G or GJ tube (also known as a “button” tube), such as a Mic-Key, Nutriport, and AMT Mini One</li><li>Foley catheter</li></ul><p>The balloon will need to be emptied before the tube is removed. If possible, remove your child’s feeding tube before bed time. This will allow the stoma to heal for several hours without feedings and with minimal movement from your child while they sleep.</p><p>Once the tube is removed, stomach contents will leak from the stoma and will continue to do so until the tract closes completely.</p><h3>Removing a Mic-G, Kangaroo or Foley catheter</h3><p>Insert a slip-tip syringe into the hard plastic port and withdraw all the water from the balloon. Remove the tube. You may need to pull with a small amount of force to dislodge the tube.</p><h3>Removing a low-profile G or GJ tube</h3><p>Insert a slip-tip syringe into the balloon port – marked “BAL” – and withdraw all the water from the balloon. Remove the tube. You may need to pull with a small amount of force to dislodge the tube.</p> | | <h2>After the feeding tube is permanently removed</h2>
<figure><span class="asset-image-title">Stoma after tube removal</span><img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/GTube_Stoma_FreshlyRemovedGtube.jpg" alt="stoma after g tube is removed" /> </figure>
<h3>Stoma and feeding tube tract healing process</h3><p>Your child’s tract will start to heal and close within hours of removing the feeding tube but it can take more than two weeks to close completely. It will leak during this time. After the tract closes, your child will have a small scar that may look like a dimple or a healed earring hole.</p><h3>How to protect your child’s skin</h3><p>To protect the skin from the acidic stomach contents, apply a zinc oxide barrier cream around the stoma and continue to apply a gauze dressing over the site, secured to the tummy with tape as long as it leaks. This dressing should be changed daily or when it is soaked. Do not be alarmed if you see some of the food and drink your child is eating on the gauze. This is normal. There are no food or drink restrictions for your child while their tract is healing. They can continue to eat and drink all of their regular food and beverages by mouth.<br></p><h3>Keeping the stoma clean</h3><p>Do not submerge your child in water until the tract is fully closed. This means no baths or swimming until there is no more leakage. Sponge baths and showers are okay during this time.</p><p>It is important to wash the stoma with soap and water daily to prevent
<a href="/article?contentid=2906&language=english">infection</a>. Be gentle; do not rub the stoma. Allow the soap, shampoo and water to lightly wash over the site.</p><p>Once the leaking stops, the stoma will scab over and your child will no longer need a gauze dressing.</p> | <h2>How long has it been since your child last used their feeding tube?</h2><p>Has your child taken all of their nutrition (food or formula), fluids (water), and medications by mouth for at least three months? Has your child used their feeding tube in the last three months? It is important to answer these questions to prove that:</p><ul><li>your child is no longer dependent upon their G or GJ tube</li><li>your child can take all their nutrition, fluids, and medications by mouth, even when they are sick </li></ul><p>Two to three months without using the G or GJ tube is generally enough time to know whether your child will continue to take everything by mouth in the future. However, this is only a general guideline and you should discuss your child’s personal history with their health-care team.</p><p>Many medications that have previously been given through the G tube or GJ tube taste very bitter. It is important to consider the taste of a medication and how well it will be tolerated by your child when switching to medications by mouth. There may be alternative medications that taste better. Speak to your child’s health-care provider about medication options.</p><h2>Some medical procedures may affect your child’s ability to feed</h2><p>Is your child scheduled for a major surgery or procedure that may affect their ability to take nutrition, fluids, or medications by mouth? If the answer to this question is 'yes', then it may be better to leave your child’s feeding tube in until your child recovers from this procedure. Your child’s health-care provider and the surgeon performing the procedure will be able to help you decide.</p> | | <p>If your child is a SickKids patient, contact the G Tube Resource Nurse with any concerns.</p><h3>G Tube Resource Nurse contact info:</h3><p>Phone: 416-813-7177</p><p>Email: g.tubenurse@sickkids.ca</p> | | | | | | | | | | | G/GJ tubes: Permanent feeding tube removal | | False | | | | | |
