Home Page
How do I care for the gastrostomy site after removal?
Your child has just had his/her gastrostomy tube removed. It has not been replaced by another tube or device.
The site normally closes in three to seven days.
Care for the gastrostomy site at this time should be as follows:
- Wash with soap and water, rinse, and dry once each day.
- Place a tightly folded 4x4 dressing over the site and tape it firmly in place.
- Any time the gauze is fully wet, remove it, rinse the site with water, pat dry, and place a dry gauze over the site.
- If the surrounding skin becomes sore or pink from drainage, apply a layer of zinc oxide (Desitin) on the area to protect it. This ointment does not need to be fully washed off each day. When complete cleansing of the ointment is desired, it can be softened or loosened with baby oil or cooking oil. The area can then be wiped off and washed well.
- If drainage continues beyond two weeks, call the physician or nurse that removed the gastrostomy tube.
Questions or Problems
Contact Telehealth Nursing at 651-229-3890 if you see any of the following:
- Fever over 101.5 F
- abdominal pain
- vomiting
- blood from the site
Translations
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the advice of your health care providers. If you have any questions, talk with your doctor or others on your health care team.
If you are a Gillette patient with urgent questions or concerns, please contact Telehealth Nursing at 651-229-3890.
