Teens/
Young Adults

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.

Several days at the hospital are likely for this procedure. You will be instructed 24-48 hours on pre-procedure protocol, including how to prepare for surgery 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.

Anaesthesia is given for the procedure. The procedure typically lasts in the operating room for one to three hours, and then in a post-anaesthesia recovery area for another few hours.

Medication will be given 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. Your care team may use a dressing to absorb the drainage. Dressings will be used only in the initial days of post-op, if drainage occurs. Be sure to change the dressing as often as needed to keep the site 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.

For standard length tubes, the tube may be secured to the abdomen with tape.

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 feeds or medication, how to flush the tube, and when to call your doctor.

Feedings by pump will likely start for 24 hours a day.  Your physician will indicate if rate can be increased to give you or your loved one some time off the pump.

On your first day home, find a good place to store supplies and a clean place to prepare the pump and feeding set. Refer to your written directions for tube feeding and how to install the flow rate on 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 rinsing your mouth several times a day can be helpful.

Try to arrange the feeding set to be coiled loosely and taped to prevent accidental snags. Using a backpack is especially helpful to navigate both inside and outside of your home.

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

Remember not to rotate or excessively manipulate these tubes. Review all instructions provided by your care team and understand what requires urgent (care within 24 hours) or emergent (immediate) attention.

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