G-Tube Care

Urgent Issues

Call Pediatric Surgery at (585) 275-4435 if your child's tube has been in for less than 3 months

Call Pediatric Gastroenterology/GI at (585) 275-2647 if your child's tube has been in for longer than 3 months

For these issues:

• The tube falls out less than 3 months after surgery
• Your child has a temperature higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit and the wound looks different
• Your child is throwing up green (bilious) output
• Your child continues to throw up with feeds AND has fewer wet diapers or urine output

Non- Urgent Issues

Many complications do not require a trip to the Emergency Department. See the troubleshooting guide.

• Granulation Tissue
• Skin Infection
• Leaking Around G-tube Site
• G-tube is Clogged
• Yeast Infection

What is a Gastrostomy Tube or G-Tube?

A gastrostomy tube (also called a G-tube) is a soft tube that is placed into your child’s stomach through a small incision (cut) in their belly. The G-tube supplies nutrition, fluids, and medicines that your child needs to grow and gain weight.

The G-tube can stay in place as long as your child needs it. If your child’s health improves, we can remove the G-tube at a later time.

When is a G-Tube Needed

Children may need G-tubes for a many reasons, including:

• Swallowing or sucking problems. Such problems might be the result of premature birth (being born too early), an injury, a developmental delay, or other condition. Developmental delay is when your child is not progressing at the same rate as other children the same age.
• Growing more slowly than normal or having trouble gaining weight.
• Congenital (present at birth) problems of the mouth, stomach, intestines, or esophagus (the part of your body that carries food or liquid from your throat to the stomach).
• Medical conditions that require more calories than a child can take in by mouth.
• Extreme problems taking medicines.

Learn more about what to expect if your child needs a G-tube.

Types of G-Tubes