Infants/
Children

On the day of the surgery, you should be shown a J-Tube or a picture of one. J-Tubes may be low-profile or standard-length.

You should expect your child to be admitted to the hospital for a few days after surgery to start and advance feeds. You will be instructed 24-48 hours on pre-procedure protocol, including how to prepare for surgery, such as bathing your child and a specific number of hours to hold fluids and foods. You’ll also be given instructions on what supplies are needed and where to get them.

Your care team will review information on how to use your tube and supplies again after the procedure.

Your child will receive anesthesia and will be in the operating room for one to three hours and then will be in a post-anesthesia recovery area for another few hours.

Your child may be given medication to help with pain, as well as a prescription to take home.

It’s normal for there to be some drainage after the procedure that’s clear or blood-tinged. Be sure the stoma site is regularly cleened and kept dry, as wet and soiled dressings can cause the skin to breakdown around the stoma site. Some redness around the stoma is normal and should go away in about three days.

A sponge bath the first day after surgery is best. Upon discharge, you’ll receive instructions on what to do for daily tube and stoma care, as well as how to use and care for the extension set (if using a low-profile tube). You’ll also be taught how to administer tube feeds or medication, how to flush the tube, and when to call your doctor.

Your child will receive tube feeds by pump for 20 to 24 hours a day. Detach the extension set (for low profile tubes) and cap the tube when the pump is not in use.

You’ll want to find a good place to store supplies once you get home. Set up your supplies, including your enteral feeding pump.

Until the J-Tube stoma site is fully healed, do not immerse your stoma site in water. Have showers not baths. Your healthcare professional will advise when you can have a bath or go swimming.

Clean the J-Tube and stoma site during the first two weeks daily using gauze and sterile water. Remember not to rotate or excessively manipulate these tubes. Be sure to keep the tube and stoma site clean and dry at all times. Expect some drainage to occur in the first few days, but also be on the lookout for major skin or stoma changes that your care team has described before you were discharged.

Attention should be given to only flush the tube with a limited amount of water before and after giving any medications. A flush with a high volume of water might induce diarrhea for a few days. Remember oral care should be practiced, even if foods or medications are not taken orally. Frequent toothbrushing and using infant swabs are helpful.

Your child’s feeding set and tubing should be coiled loosely and taped to prevent accidental pulling by siblings or pets. For children who can walk, a special backpack for their pump can be provided.

After a period of two weeks: Clean the J-Tube site every day with soap and water.

Be sure to understand what issues may require urgent attention (within 24 hours) or emergent (immediate) care. When in doubt, call your care team.

Remember: the first day at home after any big change is going to require some adjustment. But before long, you and your child will become more used to the feeding tube and you’ll develop a new routine that’s second nature to you.