Top 4 Tips To Make The Life Of A Child Going Through Gastrostomy Easy

The G in the G-Tube stands for Gastronomy, which is an opening in the stomach. It is a hollow tube that is inserted into the stomach through the gastrostomy opening. The kids going through gastronomy can intake nutrition supplements easily through it. The kids can easily meet the caloric requirement through stomach tube insertion. It is recommended that the patient never skip the meals and also intakes snacks along. The insertion procedure does not take longer than 30 minutes and requires a maximum of 5 days stay at the hospital. 

Here are some tips, which can help children going through gastrostomy lead a normal life. 

• Taking Care of the Tube: The tube is placed inside the stomach by stitching it around the skin. This helps keep it secure until the tract is well healed. Ask the doctor about the brand, length, size, and type of the tube. Knowing these factors will help you take better care of the tube. Before and after feeding and medications, you will have to flush the tube well. 
• Use 2-tablespoon water and unclog the tube. It is highly recommended not to use a wire to unclog the tube. Using a plastic brush tailor-made for the G-tube or water is recommended. To clean the ends of the PEG tube, use an alcohol pad and make sure the end of the tube does not touch anything. You need to crush the medications and mix it with water before letting it down the tube. 
• Taking Care of the Skin: When the child first gets the tube, do not remove the stitches that hold it to the skin. It is advised to clean the skin around the tube at least twice a day so that no redness or swelling appears. The skin around the tube should always be dry as infections may occur with moist skin. Also, apply an antibiotic cream around the tube when you are done cleaning. This way the child will be able to move freely and be comfortable. 
• The Child’s Psychological Perspective: You, as a parent, have to make sure that the child does not feel odd or feel something is wrong with him/her. Seeing a loved one depressed is the hardest situation to go through. Learn about the illness and take every step to understand the symptoms and treatment. This will help you understand what the child is feeling. The child might sometimes feel isolated even among children of his/her age. Give them companionship and spend quality time with them to understand them better. Try to validate their pain and show them they are accepted and loved.
• Side Effects: You, as a parent, should also be aware of the side effects of the stomach tube insertion before going through the procedure. Infection and bleeding occur at the spot of the tube insertion, which should be taken care of with regular care. The child may also go through skin irritation, anesthesia problem, aspiration, fever and chills, cough, constipation, nausea.  If the tube becomes clogged or the child faces any of these side effects then call your health practitioner immediately.

If you want to know more about gastrostomy tube insertion and the procedure visit Nutrition4kids. Here if you will find everything you need to know about diseases in children, healthy meals, and expert advice. They offer blogs and articles written by experienced medical and psychological professionals. 

Visit the website at http://www.nutrition4kids.com for more details.

All You Need to Know About Stomach Tube Insertion in Kids

Is your child experiencing a problem in feeding or swallowing food? Is He/she is unable to intake food or liquids properly? Then this may act as a hindrance in your child’s growth. In such cases, the doctors suggest inserting a Gastronomy tube also known as G-tube or an NG-tube through the abdomen to deliver the essential nutrients into the body. 

You might be thinking about the conditions that lead to Stomach Tube Insertion. Below are some of the common conditions that your child may require a G-tube:

1. Congenital problem- Problem in the mouth, stomach, intestine.

2. Swallowing issues- Mainly due to slow development, prematurity, brain injury.

3. Failure to thrive- Unable to gain weight and abnormal body growth.

4. Unable to take in medicines

5. Severe Abdominal pain

This insertion is a small procedure, which takes about 30 to 40 minutes and a max of 2-days stay at the hospital. The healing is fast and the kids can get back to their normal activities after the incision has healed.

How to take care of the tube and skin around after the procedure

The doctor will guide you on how to take care of the tube. Make sure to keep in mind these guidelines.

• Clean tube after and before use

This will help in the smooth flow of the food into the stomach and there will not be any blockage. Use 30 ml of water to clean the tube thoroughly.

• Unclog the tube immediately

If the tube gets clogged by any chance then immediately unclog it using 60 ml of warm water. Always use water or a soft brush to clear the passage. Never use a wire.

• Keep check on the length

Always check the length of the tube from the end till the point it goes into the body. If it gets longer, it may come out and if shorter then you should inform the doctor right away.

• Clean the skin around

Make sure to clean the skin around once every two days, there should not be any rashes or swelling around. Also, keep the skin around dry to prevent any infection.

• Use antibiotic  cream

Use an antibiotic cream as directed by your doctor around the tube area after you are done with cleaning.

• Do not remove stitches

The doctor will remove the band-aid and medical tape after the skin heals within 24 hours. Ask your doctor about when can the kid shower or bathe.

You can know more about Stomach tube insertion at Nutrition4kids. They have all that you need to know about G-tube, inserting NG- tube at home, symptoms, precautions and expert tips from the best pediatrician in the field. You can also know about various kids related health issues and the best solution.

 Visit the website http://www.nutrition4kids.com/ for more information.

In case you missed my previous post, read it here. Thanks!

Protect Your Child From Malnutrition with PEG Tube Feeding

A child’s nutrition is the top most priority on any parents list. Good nutrition ensures growth and health of a child. Some children make fuzz when they eat and mostly it leaves lesser options for parents to feed their child. Sometimes, it is that your child must be having some gastrointestinal problem which might have gone undetected. 

The worst thing that children are going through is malnutrition, which consequents to serious illness and high mortality rate in one’s country. When a child’s nutrition is not met by oral feeding due to problems in digestion, appetite, swallowing and other gastrointestinal problem, doctors recommend PEG tubes to nourish the body. You can find more information about this topic on www.nutrition4kids.com. 

What is PEG tube feeding?

PEG tube feeding is needed when other types of feeding fail and they are not able to eat or drink properly. When the body cannot be nourished through IV and N-tube, doctors go for PEG tube, which is a short form for Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrotomy (PEG) tube. This tube is inserted through one's skin to the stomach and through this tube medical formula, medicines and water are given.

When does a child need PEG tube feeding?

There can be a variety of reasons. Some premature infants who are not developed and strong enough to suck and swallow might need PEG tube feeding. In other cases, children with the cardiac or respiratory issue may leave them with less energy to swallow. Some children have neurological problems that might hinder oral feeding. Hence, these children develop loss in appetite and it results in malnutrition.

How durable are PEG feeding tubes?

PEG feeding tubes are known to last for months or years. But one should always take care of the tube not to break down or get clogged over extended periods of time. The doctors would recommend when to get a replacement or get it removed.

Nutrition4Kids will always be there to guide you with your queries about your child’s development. You can always trust Nutrition4Kids to make an informed choice about your child’s nutrition. Find more information about PEG tube feeding on www.nutrition4kids.com. 

If you like this post, please also read my another post about Gluten Intolerant Test