Troubleshooting and potential complications

What should I do when there's fluid leaking around the G-tube?

• First, check what the drainage looks like.
• If tube feed or medication is leaking around the tube, please stop using the G-tube and call 804-828-3500.
• If white, yellow or green fluid that's thick and foul smelling drains around the tube, this may be normal drainage from the granulation tissue or a sign of infection. Please clean around the G-tube with soap and water. If the skin around the tube becomes red, tender or doesn't improve within few days, please call us at 804-828-3500.
•  If the drainage is pink or slightly bloody but transparent, there's no need to be alarmed. Please clean around the area around 2 to 3 times a day with soap and see if it improves in few days. You may use a split gauze dressing under the tube, if necessary.

What should I do when the tube feed and medications are not flowing through the G-tube easily?

• There may be various reasons why the tube feed is not flowing as it should. It may be that the G-tube is out of place, the tube is clogged or the stomach may be full.

1. Please fill a syringe with 10mL of water and try flushing the G-tube.
2. Check if you can withdraw stomach or tube feed contents from the G-tube with a syringe
3. If you are able to, it's possible that your child's stomach is full for various reasons. Please stop the tube feed for the time being and resume the tube feed the next day.
4. If you are not able to, it's possible that your child's G-tube is out of place. Please stop the tube feed and call the clinic at 804-828-3500.

What should I do when the G-tube falls out completely?

• If it has been less than 2 weeks since the tube was placed:

1. Please place a dressing over the G-tube opening.
2. You will need to take your child to the emergency department or clinic for the G-tube to be replaced. Take your back-up button kit with you.
3. Once the G-tube is replaced, you will need an X-ray study to verify that the new tube is in the stomach.

• If it has been more than 2 weeks:

1. Fill the syringe from the button kit with 5mL of water
2. Put the syringe to the balloon valve
3. Push the water into the valve to blow up the balloon
4. You will now check if the balloon is still in working condition. Remove the syringe. Check for leaking in the balloon and/or the balloon valve. If you see water leaking, you will need a new G-tube to replace the old one. Please go to the emergency department or call the clinic.
5. If there's no leaking, put the syringe back on the balloon valve and pull the water back into the syringe to deflate the balloon. Remove the syringe from the balloon valve.
6. Place lubricant from the kit or K-Y jelly (not Vaseline) on the end of the tube.
7. Place the blue introducer/stiffener through the feeding port of the G-tube.
8. Slide the balloon end through the gastrostomy stoma to the top of the button.
9. Once the tube has been inserted, push the water in the syringe into the balloon and remove the syringe.
10. Connect the extension set to the button and attach a syringe to the end of the extension set.
11. Pull back the syringe to check for stomach contents. Do not flush.
12. Please call 804-828-3500 for the next steps. You may need a dye study to confirm the placement of the G-tube before restarting feeds through the tube. *Please do NOT use the G-tube again without calling the clinic.