🧒🧷 Gastrostomy Tubes (G-Tubes): Types, Care, Troubleshooting (Parent-Friendly Guide)

✅ A gastrostomy tube (G-tube) is a feeding tube that goes directly into the stomach through a small opening in the belly.
It can be used for nutrition, hydration, and medicines—temporarily or long-term.
This guide focuses on the practical “tube care” side: what types exist, daily care, and what to do when problems happen.

1) 🧾 Quick “At-a-glance” box (top of page)

✅ Topic: Gastrostomy Tubes (G-tubes)
Common names: G-tube, button tube, gastrostomy button (Mic-Key/MiniOne), feeding tube in stomach

Plain-language summary (2–3 lines):
A G-tube provides reliable nutrition and medicines directly into the stomach. Families learn daily care, skin protection, and what to do if there is leaking, redness, clogging, or tube dislodgement.

Who it affects (typical ages):
Infants, children, and teens needing long-term or reliable feeding support.

✅ What parents should do today:

• Identify your child’s tube type (button vs long tube) and size
• Learn how to clean/inspect the stoma and prevent skin breakdown
• Know what to do if the tube clogs or falls out
• Keep an emergency kit at home

⚠️ Red flags needing urgent/ER care:

• Tube falls out and you cannot replace it promptly
• Severe belly pain/swelling with vomiting
• Heavy bleeding from the stoma
• Child is very sleepy/dehydrated

🟡 When to contact clinic urgently:

• Spreading redness, pus, fever
• Persistent leaking causing skin injury
• Frequent clogs or recurring granulation tissue
• Poor tolerance or poor growth

2) 🧠 What it is (plain language)

A gastrostomy tube is placed through the abdominal wall into the stomach.

Common G-tube styles

• Low-profile “button” (flat against the skin)
• Long tube (longer external tubing)

Important parts to know

• Stoma: the skin opening
• Internal retention: balloon or bumper inside stomach
• Extension set: connects to the button for feeding

What part of the body is involved? (small diagram required)

Common myths vs facts

• Myth: “A G-tube means my child can’t eat by mouth.”
  Fact: Many children continue safe oral intake.
• Myth: “Redness always means infection.”
  Fact: Mild redness can be irritation from moisture/leakage.
• Myth: “Leaks are harmless.”
  Fact: Leaks can cause painful skin breakdown and need attention.

3) 🧩 Why children get G-tubes (causes & triggers)

Common reasons

• long-term poor intake or poor weight gain
• swallowing safety concerns / aspiration risk
• neurologic or developmental feeding difficulties
• chronic illness with high calorie needs
• reliable medication delivery needs

Less common but important reasons

• severe feeding aversion needing prolonged support
• complex GI disease affecting intake

Triggers that worsen tube-site issues

• moisture from leakage
• friction from movement
• poor tube fit (too loose/tight)
• constipation or vomiting increasing pressure

4) 👀 What parents might notice (symptoms)

• small clear leakage around tube
• mild redness that improves with cleaning/drying
• occasional granulation tissue (“red bumpy tissue”)
• intermittent clogging if flushing is inconsistent

What’s normal vs what’s not

🟢 Often normal:

• minor redness that improves within 24–48 hours
• small granulation tissue without pain

⚠️ Not normal:

• spreading redness, pus, fever
• significant pain or foul odor
• heavy bleeding
• persistent leaking with skin breakdown
• tube dislodgement

Symptom trackers

• leakage amount and skin condition
• pain level
• vomiting/constipation
• feed tolerance
• weight trend

5) 🏠 Home care and what helps (step-by-step)

✅ A simple daily routine prevents most problems.

Daily G-tube care

✅ Do this now:

• Wash hands
• Clean stoma area once daily with mild soap/water; pat dry
• Inspect for:
  • redness
  • discharge/odor
  • swelling
  • skin breakdown
• Keep skin dry
• Flush tube before/after feeds and meds (as prescribed)

Leakage and skin protection

• protect skin with barrier cream/film as advised
• address constipation and vomiting (reduces pressure)
• check tube fit at clinic if leakage persists

Granulation tissue care

• keep area dry
• avoid friction
• clinic may treat with topical meds or cautery if bothersome

What usually makes it worse

• leaving wet skin untreated
• tight dressings that trap moisture
• skipping flushes
• pulling/tugging on tube

6) ⛔ What NOT to do (common mistakes)

• Don’t use harsh alcohol/peroxide daily on the stoma unless instructed.
• Don’t cut or puncture the tube.
• Don’t force flush a clogged tube.
• Don’t change balloon volume unless your team trained you.

7) 🚦 When to worry: triage guidance

🔴 Call 911 / Emergency now

• severe breathing trouble (not usually tube-related but urgent)
• collapse or unresponsiveness

🟠 Same-day urgent visit

• tube falls out and you cannot replace it promptly
• severe belly pain with swelling and vomiting
• spreading redness + fever

🟡 Book a routine appointment

• recurrent leaking or clogs
• ongoing granulation tissue
• persistent skin breakdown

🟢 Watch at home

• mild irritation that improves with dryness and barrier care

8) 🩺 How doctors assess G-tube issues (what to expect)

What the clinician will ask

• tube type/size and how long it’s been in place
• leakage pattern
• flushing routine
• constipation/vomiting history
• growth and feed plan

Physical exam basics

• stoma appearance
• belly exam for tenderness/distension
• hydration and growth

Possible tests (if needed)

• imaging for suspected malposition
• labs if infection or poor growth concerns

What tests are usually not needed

• routine imaging if tube function and child are stable

9) 🧰 Treatment options (by problem)

1) Leaking

• improve skin barrier protection
• treat constipation/reflux
• assess tube fit and balloon volume (clinic-guided)
• consider tube change if worn/loose

2) Clogging

• flush regularly
• use liquid medications when possible
• follow clinic protocol for declogging (do not force)

3) Infection (cellulitis)

• may require antibiotics
• keep site clean and dry
• seek care for fever or spreading redness

4) Granulation tissue

• topical therapy or clinic treatment if painful or bleeding

10) ⏳ Expected course & prognosis

• families become comfortable with care within days to weeks
• many tube-site problems are manageable with routine and early intervention
• some children eventually wean off the tube; others need long-term support

Return to school/daycare/sports

• most children can participate normally with tube protection and planning

11) ⚠️ Complications (brief but clear)

Common

• irritation/leaking
• granulation tissue
• clogs

Rare serious

• peritonitis after dislodgement (severe pain + illness)
• buried bumper syndrome (certain tube types)
• major infection

12) 🛡️ Prevention and reducing future episodes

• keep skin dry
• flush consistently
• treat constipation
• avoid friction and tugging
• keep scheduled tube follow-ups

13) 🌟 Special situations

Infants

Skin is sensitive; careful dryness and gentle taping.

Teens

Privacy and independence; teach self-care gradually.

Chronic conditions

May require higher calories and longer-term tube use.

Neurodevelopmental differences/autism

Routine and predictable steps help; sensory-friendly dressing options.

Travel

Bring:

• spare tube/extension sets (if provided)
• syringes, gauze, tape
• written emergency plan

School/daycare notes

Provide:

• feeding plan
• emergency steps if tube is dislodged
• contact numbers

14) 📅 Follow-up plan

• routine tube clinic visits
• dietitian follow-up for growth
• earlier follow-up if:
  • skin breakdown worsens
  • tube dislodges repeatedly
  • vomiting increases

15) ❓ Parent FAQs (G-tube Care-Specific)

“What should I do if the G-tube falls out?”

Act quickly. The opening can narrow. Follow your emergency plan. If you cannot replace it safely, go to urgent care/ER.

“Is leaking around the tube normal?”

Small moisture can happen, but persistent leaking that irritates skin needs review (fit, constipation, balloon issues).

“Why does my child have red bumpy tissue around the tube?”

That’s often granulation tissue—extra healing tissue. It can be treated if painful or bleeding.

“Can my child swim or bathe with a G-tube?”

Bathing is usually fine once healed. Swimming depends on healing and local guidance—ask your tube team.

“How do I prevent clogs?”

Flush routinely, give meds properly, and avoid thick mixtures unless approved.

16) 🧾 Printable tools (high-value add-ons)

🧾 Printable: G-Tube Daily Care Checklist

• Clean and dry stoma
• Check for redness/leakage/odor
• Flush before/after feeds and meds
• Protect skin with barrier if needed

🧾 Printable: G-Tube “Falls Out” Action Sheet

⚠️ Time matters.

• Try replacement only if trained
• If you cannot replace: seek urgent care/ER
• Bring spare tube and your emergency plan

🧾 Printable: Skin Breakdown Plan

• Keep dry
• Barrier protection
• Call clinic if worsening redness or pain

17) 📚 Credible sources + last updated date

Trusted references:

• Children’s hospital gastrostomy care education pages
• Pediatric enteral feeding resources

Last reviewed/updated on: 2025-12-31
Tube care varies by tube type and center—follow your clinic’s instructions.

🧡 Safety disclaimer

This guide supports—not replaces—medical care. If you are worried about your child, trust your instincts and seek urgent medical assessment.

This guide was fully developed & reviewed by Dr. Mohammad Hussein, MD, FRCPC ROYAL COLLEGE–CERTIFIED PEDIATRICIAN & PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGIST Board-certified pediatrician and pediatric gastroenterologist (Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada) with expertise in inflammatory bowel disease, eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders, motility and functional testing, and complex nutrition across diverse international practice settings.

To book an online assessment Email Dr. Hussein’s Assistant Elizabeth Gray at: Elizabeth.Gray@pedsgimind.ca
In the email subject, please write: New Assessment Appointment with Dr. Hussein

Important: This appointment is completely online as Dr. Hussein is currently working overseas. This service is not covered by OHIP