Notes from the gastro tube video

A. CLEANING THE SITE:
It might be red and tender and may have dry, yellow crust.
IMPORTANT—Keep tension off the site and tape the catheter to the
abdomen.
THREE STEPS TO CLEAN—1. Wash hands.
2. Prepare mixture of half water and half
hydrogen peroxide.
3. Use solution to clean around the site
With a Q-tip (gently loosen crust or
drainage) and then dry gently.
Will see normal drainage for 2 to 4 weeks. Two weeks after surgery:
Stop using hydrogen peroxide.
You can wash the area and pat it dry during normal baths.
B. HOW TO VENT:
For children with the Nissen procedure done: Before feeding and at
least every 4 hours, you must provide an outlet for air with plunger for
stomach contents through a decompression tube via a catheter tipped
syringe without the plunger.
1st attach a 60 cc syringe into tube. Then, open device and insert
decompression into device.
Make sure the decompression device is unclamped. Any excess air or
liquid should escape through the tube.
ALWAYS return the stomach contents and flush with water and then
remove tube.
C. HOW TO CHECK FOR STOMACH RESIDUAL:
Sometimes your child may need more time between feedings to digest
their food. If so, the abdomen may swell and they may vomit. If this
happens, check the amount of fluid that is present in the child’s
stomach before feedings. This fluid (acid and formula) is present in the
child’s stomach before feedings. This fluid which is acid and formula is
the FLUID RESIDUAL.
TO CHECK FOR RESIDUAL….
Attach a 60 cc syringe without the plunger to the feeding tube.
Insert the feeding tube into the skin level device.
Make sure the feeding tube is unclamped.
Rolling your child to the side will help the residual to drain into the
tubing.
If the residual is more than ½ of the amount of the child’s previous
feeding, then WAIT (the child needs more time to empty their stomach).
Then, recheck the residual level after 30 minutes before giving the next
feeding.
Always return the residual fluid back into the stomach (to keep their
electrolytes in balance).
Then rinse the tubing with water.
If swelling or vomiting continues, call your doctor.
Your child may need medicine to help.
D. HOW TO PREPARE FOR FEEDINGS:
You will get a feeding schedule, designated type of formula
recommended via the nutritionist, and how much and how often to give
formula.
E. HOW TO GIVE BOLUS FEEDINGS. (This really doesn’t apply to
Jaiden but it may in the future).
1. Vent any air or fluid with a decompression tube.
2. Attach syringe or pump tubing to feeding tube.
3. Pour amount of formula in bag or syringe and let the formula
run all the way through the tubing.
4. Place feeding tube into the device.
5. Let the formula feed the child according to instructions.
6. Keep the head of the bed raised while feeding.
F. Feeding with a continuous pump:
1. Always vent with a decompression tube before feeding.
2. Follow your pump manufacturer’s instructions for connecting
the feeding bag and the feeding tube to the pump.
3. Close the clamp on the pump tubing.
4. Fill the feeding bag with formula.
5. Close and hang the feeding bag. ***REMEMBER*** Hang bag
at least 18 inches above the pump.
6. Open the control clamp while holding the drip chamber upside
down. Allow formula to rise above the tubing and then turn
drip chamber.
7. Set the appropriate feeding rate. ***REMEMBER*** During
feedings that lat longer than 4 to 6 hours, you must add ice to
the feeding bag’s external pouch.
8. Change feeding bag daily.

G. HOW TO GIVE MEDICATIONS:
Dissolve 10 to 20 cc of warm water or formula if have to crush pills
instead of using liquid meds.
***REMEMBER*** Always flush tube with water between meds.
To give your child medication, open the safety plug on the device and
attach to the bolus tube.
Unclamp the tubing and then inject the medication.
Next, flush with water and then clamp the tubing and close the port.
H. WHAT TO DO IF GASTRIC TUBE LEAKS:
First determine if the leak is around the tubing or from a broken valve
within the tube.
***WHAT TO DO FOR A LEAKING DEVICE WITH A SOFT RETENTION
DOME: If the device has a soft retention dome and the device is leaking,
call your doctor immediately.
This type of device must be replaced by a doctor.
Have the device replaced yearly or as your child grows.
***WHAT TO DO FOR A LEAKING DEVICE WITH A BALLOON***
Sometimes water in the balloon evaporates or leaks and needs to be
replaced.
Check the balloon and add the difference if needed. Normally, 3 to 5 cc
of water is necessary to secure the balloon inside the stomach.
***REMEMBER*** Never fill the ballon with air.
To increase the balloon volume, use 1 or 2 cc of water.
Never exceed 5 cc.
I. HOW TO PROTECT THE SKIN IF A LEAK OCCURS:
If a leak occurs, the area around the tube must be protected. You can
use stomach adhesive powder to dry the area. Then, apply zinc oxide
cream liberally.
Take the gauze pad sized 2x2 and fold in half placing folded edges
against the device.
You can also cut the pad in half and place the pieces around the device.
To secure the pad, place the gauze to gauze only. DON”T TAPE TO
SKIN.
***REMEMBER***
Change the gauze when it becomes wet.
Keep the area dry and clean.
Acid reducing meds may be prescribed to promote healing.
J. WHAT TO DO IF TUBE BECOMES CLOGGED:
Occasionally the tube will get clogged by food or by medication.
***REMEMBER*** Always flush the tuve with 10cc of warm water after
feeding and medication.
Diet soda or cranberry juice dissolves stubborn clogs.
Gently inject warm water and diet soda or cranberry juice allowing it to
flow back out of the tube until the blockage is cleared.
***REMEMBER*** Don’t use pressure to clear the blockage.
Use water and vinegar or warm, soapy water to routinely clean the
tubing.

K. WHAT TO DO IF THE TUBE COMES OUT:
If the tube comes out, it needs to be replaced immediately to prevent the
opening from closing.
If the tube is a skin level device with a balloon, fill the syringe with 5 cc of
tap water.
Connect the syringe to the balloon and push the water into the balloon. The
balloon should inflate.
***IMPORTANT*** if it does not, get a new device.
Next, remove the balloon and disconnect the syringe.
If needed, cleanse the area of the gastro site and pat it dry.
Insert the skin level device into the opening and fill the balloon with 3 to 5
cc of water.
After inserting the device, notify the doctor.
Your doctor may want to take an x-ray after you have replaced a skin level
device.
***TO INSERT A FOLEY CATHETER**** (This is if the skin level device falls
out sooner than on month after initial gastro surgery)
To insert a foley catheter, fill the syringe with 5 cc of tap water.
Connect the syringe to the site port foley catheter and push the tap water
into the balloon.
***IMPORTANT*** if the balloon does not inflate, get another Foley catheter
and disconnect.
If needed, clean the area and pat dry.
Use a water-soluble lubricant to wet the Foley catheter.
Water solube lubricants are available at pharmacies and grocery stores.
Next, insert top of the catheter into the child’s stoma about 1 inch past the
deflated balloon. Fill the ballon with 3 to 5 cc of water.
***IMPORTANT***
Don’t allow the balloon to pass too deeply into the stomach (where
stomach empties into the small bowel) this can be prevented by ensuring
the balloon is tight against the stomach wall.
Pull gently on the tube feeling the balloon up against the wall of the
stomach.
***REMEMBER*** Plug the end of the catheter to prevent the stomach
cotents from spilling stomach contents. It is necessary to tape the catheter
to the abdomen to prevent the balloon from moving too far into the
stomach.
Tape the catheter into an upright position without tension on the tube.
***REMEMBER*** If your child is irritable or vomits after inserting the Foley
catheter, of if you have difficulty inserting the catheter, call your doctor.
L. HOW TO TREAT EROSION:
Erosion occurs when there is tension on a device, resulting in tearing of
the gastrostomy site.
Leaving the tube out for 2 to 3 hours with the child on his or her side will
allow for some healing. HOWEVER this ony should be done with a doctor’s
guidance.
***REMEMBER*** That the tube should rotate freely and be separated from
the skin by 1/8 of an inch.
It should have a good fit and should be checked frequently.
Any device can cause a pressure sore if it is too short.
***IMPORTANT*** Measure the fit with your child lying down and then
sitting up.
The device may need to be exchanged.
M. HOW TO TREAT GRANULATION TISSUE:
Granulation tissue may enlarge gastostomy site if it is not treated.
TO TREAT—Apply Xylocaine 2% jelly to the raised tissue. Touch the raised,
beefy area with silver nitrate cauterizing sticks until the tissue turns gray.
Protect the skin around the granulation tissue with Vaseline or barrier
cream. So, the surrounding area tissue won’t be affected.
Reapply the cauterizing stick as needed every 1 to 2 days until the tissue
heals.
As an alternative, Triamcinalone cream 0.1% may be applied three times
daily until the tissue h eals.
Silver nitrate cauterizing sticks, Xylocaine cream, and Triamcinalone cram
are available by prescription.
N. HOW STO TREAT SITE INFECTION:
If there is an infection, the site will measure 10 to 20 mm or ½ to 1 inch
around the tube. This will need to be treated by your doctor.

Source: http://mldfoundation.org/Articles-PDF/Gastro%20tube%20video%20notes.pdf

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