Creating an Emergency G-Tube Kit

There are several items G-tube users or their caregivers need to keep nearby in the event of an incident with the supplies or an emergency.

According to the Feeding Tube Awareness Foundation, the first thing you should do is get an extra Foley catheter. Make sure it’s the same French size as the G-tube. You could also get an extra G-tube button. In the event that a patient’s G-tube is pulled out or falls out, it’s good to have something nearby with which to replace the tube. If the tube was placed recently, go directly to a hospital emergency room for assistance.

You should also include a water-based lubricant like SurgiLube or K-Y Jelly, and 5 ml and 60 ml syringes. (The slip-tip 5ml syringe should fit into the balloon port of your G-tube button.)

You also can include a bottle of water, medical tape, an extension set (if you have an extra G-tube button) and a clamp from an old extension set if you are using a Foley catheter.

For more information – and details on what to do if your G-tube falls or is pulled out – visit https://www.feedingtubeawareness.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Emergency_Kit_Guide.pdf. To learn more general information about this topic, visit https://www.chcsolutions.com/continuum_connect/enteral-nutritional/tube-feeding-guide-to-educate-parents/.

*Disclaimer: Any health and wellness content presented is for general informational purposes only. Such content is not intended to replace or serve as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.