Gastrostomy allows liquid food to enter directly into the stomach, so that patients with cerebral palsy who have difficulty in eating do not need to swallow, and get adequate food supply directly.

• Keep the wound dry and avoid contact with water within one week of operation. Dab the wound with normal saline 1-2 times a day. Examine and press the wound with cotton sticks to observe whether there are redness, purulence, gastric acid reflux and unclean, foul-smelling exudate. If the dressing covering the wound has exudation or bleeding, remove the dressing, then clean the wound with normal saline and cover clean gauze on the wound.
• After 1 week of operation, patients can start washing their body after evaluation by medical staff, with showering recommended. Wash the skin at the stoma with soap and warm water when taking a shower. Dry the wound and stoma immediately thereafter, so as to avoid dampness at the stoma affecting the surrounding skin.
• Keep the stoma clean and dry at all times to prevent inflammation.
• Determine daily whether the fixed depth of the stoma tube is the same as the marked position. If the length of the tube outside the abdominal wall is slightly changed, gently push forward or pull the tube to the original marked position.
• Inspect the skin around the stoma daily.

1. Are there any redness, swelling, fever, putrefaction or abnormal skin secretions?
2. Is there any expansion at the stoma?
3. Is there any presence of severe tissue hyperplasia (polyposis) at the stoma?

• In case of any of the above situations, contact the medical staff at any time.

FAQs

If the gastrostomy tube is blocked, how to deal with it?

• Check for any obstruction caused by a folded gastrostomy tube.
• Tube feeding with warm water before and after feeding or medication can reduce the chance of obstruction.
• Gently rub and press the gastrostomy tube to loosen the food in the tube for easy removal.
• Prepare a syringe with warm water and connect it with the gastrostomy tube for flushing and reverse sucking. Try to remove the food left in the tube of the gastrostomy. If it is not possible to remove the blockage, leave the warm water in the tube for 2 minutes, soften it, and then withdraw it back.

If the gastrostomy tube is pulled out, how to deal with it?

• If the patient unconsciously and repeatedly pulls out the gastrostomy tube, a dressing or abdominal binder can be used to cover the exit to avoid pulling out.
• Once the gastrostomy tube falls out, don't panic. First cover the wound with a dressing and bring back the tube to the hospital for treatment.

How to deal with stoma infection?

• Gastric infections are rare when healing begins. Always clean the affected area once or more a day as instructed.
• If the skin shows signs of inflammation (persistent redness, heat, pain, swelling, abnormal seepage), contact the medical staff.

If there is leakage at the stoma, how to deal with it?

• It may occur because the tube is pulled apart from the abdominal wall or because the stomach is enlarged. If the stoma has been enlarged, a new tube may be required.
• Assess whether severe abdominal bloating is due to each overfeeding.
• If the leakage does not stop, do not panic. First cover the stoma with a dressing and seek medical treatment at the hospital.

If the gastrostomy tube is shorter or longer than usual, how to deal with it?

• When placing a gastrostomy tube, keep in mind the length of the exposed tube (scale marks on the surface of the tube) and ask your physician or nurse about the location of the gastrostomy tube. When there is a significant change in the length of your gastrostomy tube, be sure to contact the medical staff.