G-tube gauze and tape dressing (3068)
Key points below
for G-tubes and J-tubes
What is a gauze and tape dressing?
This dressing helps keep your child’s tube in place. It is used for long type of tubes. It helps keep the tube from wiggling and leaning.When do I change the dressing?
Change the dressing:
- every day.
- if there is a lot of drainage on the dressing.
- if the tube is not secure.
When changing the dressing, it is best to move it to a different spot on the belly. This helps keep the tube from leaning on one side and making the opening larger. This also protects the skin
around the tube.
It may be easiest to plan the dressing change during your child’s bath time. The site should still be cleaned every day.
How do I change the dressing?
1. Get supplies ready.
- Two pieces of tape 6 inches long. Cut one end lengthwise about 3 inches.
- Two pieces of 2 inch x 2 inch gauze pads with a slit cut to the middle.
- Tape.
- Safety pin.
2. Wash your hands with soap and water.
3. Remove the old dressing.
4. Clean the skin site.
- Your child’s daily bath is a good time to do this care.
6. Gently spin the tube in the tract. This helps the stop the tube from sticking to the skin.
7. Lay 2 pieces of gauze pads around the tube.
8. Take one piece of the split tape. Fold up two narrow ends to make tabs. This piece of tape will look like a pair of pants.
9. Put the tape so that the tube will be at the split. Stick one side of the tape on the gauze and skin.
10. Pull gently up on tube keeping it straight out from the skin
11. Wrap the other side of tape around the tube, next to the gauze.
12. Repeat step #9 and 10, but wrap the second split piece of tape the opposite way.
13. Secure the tube using a tension loop. This allows the tube to be looped to the side and taped to the skin.
- Tear two pieces of 1inch tape about 3 inches long.
- On one piece, fold each end over to make tabs. Fold this piece of tape around the tube, about 3 to 5 inches from the dressing.
- On the second piece of tape, pinch the center together to make a tab and leave the ends sticky. Place this piece of your child’s tummy about 3 inches from the tube site.
- Pin the two tabs together with the safety pin. This will keep the tube straight up at site.
