Gastrostomy Tube  (G-Tube)

What is a gastrostomy tube?

A gastrostomy tube (G-tube) is a tube placed directly into the stomach to provide your child with food or medicine. There are many different types of G-tubes. Your child’s doctor will choose the one that’s best for your child based on their specific needs.

When is a G-tube needed?

Children may need to have a G-tube for many different reasons. The most common is for feeding when children can’t get enough nutrition by eating. This can happen if your baby has trouble feeding or has a condition that causes trouble swallowing or moving food through the digestive system. Some children may also have a G-tube placed for medicines or to vent the stomach.

How is a G-tube placed?

Your child’s doctor will discuss the G-tube placement with you ahead of time. They will explain what your child can expect during and after surgery and how to prepare for the procedure. Before the surgery, your child will receive intravenous (IV) anesthesia so they are not awake during the procedure.

Placing the G-tube is most often done with laparoscopic surgery. During the surgery, your child’s doctor will make two small cuts in the stomach. One cut is to insert the G-tube and the other is for a tiny camera to help the surgeon guide the G-tube into place. In some cases, the G-tube is placed using open surgery. This may be your doctor’s choice if your child has scarring from another procedure or is having another surgery at the same time as G-tube placement.

Placing the G-tube usually takes less than one hour. Most children stay in the hospital for one to two days after the surgery. Before you go home, you will learn:

• How to care for the tube and the skin that surrounds it
• How to feed your child through the tube
• What signs and symptoms might mean there’s a problem
• What to expect as the G-tube heals

When should you call the doctor?

Call your doctor if your child has any of the following problems after a G-tube placement:

• The tube becomes dislodged or blocked
• Your child has signs of infection at the G-tube site, such as a fever, yellow or green discharge, or redness, warmth or swelling of the skin
• Excessive leaking