Idea's on keeping G-tube stoma site dry and less red?

Heather - posted on 10/13/2012

I was told to clean with warm water on a q-tip twice a day. I go around and around the site and them again with a dry one to make sure it's dry. I do this 2 times a days and never touch it otherwise. He usually has a little crusted drainage around the site when I do it but his color is otherwise good. I guess I was told that the more you clean it and mess with it, the worse it gets. They told me not to use any kind of creams and so far they have been right, keep it clean and dry. I don't even use gauze.

Sheila - posted on 08/21/2012

Hello Maren,

I dont know if you will get this, but I am going to send it along anyway....just in case! I'm a Pediatric Home Health Nurse and what I have seen WORK on these little Kiddo's is one of two choices.

One is LIQUID CARAFATE ( SUCRALFATE). It's a pink liquid that is typically used to treat ulcer's inside the digestive system. It works mainly in the lining of the stomach by adhering to ulcer sites and protecting them from acids, enzymes, and bile salts. When the doctors realized this they decided to try it on the outside to see if it would help, and it did! It doest work for EVERY Kiddo, but it might help.

Second is CALMOSEPTINE OINTMENT and it helps by protecting that tender tissue from the acid in the stool thats coming in contact with it. Your Doc can tell you about these and order them if he/she feels they will help. I hope this helps!

Anna

Tania - posted on 07/02/2011

Hi i clean the site twice a day with saline, i then put a little vitamin A cream around site and then use a topper, i let it air after cleaning and if its a nice day let it air with the sun this is great for it.

Kassandra - posted on 03/31/2011

Adriana has had hre tube for a little over 3 months now.I was havin a lot of trouble ith drainage and her site just did not seem to be healing. She actually ended up getting a holster clamp on because she pulled her peg out twice. She now has a mic-key. Anyways lol, I noticed that the clamp actually was making the site worse. I stopped using all guaze, adhesives, ointments, etc... and within a few day the site started improving so much. The granulation tissue quit growing, barely any drainage. It gets red ocassionally, but since it is not infected I just let it go and it clears up on it's own.

Jes - posted on 03/08/2011

We use non woven gauze and g tube pads on my sons site. We also use an antibiotic ointment ( mupirocine i think .. ) off and on and a barrier cream (calmseptine or something of the sort) to keep the leakage off the skin.. The leakage is actually acid (i was told) and will eat at the skin. My sons site use to be red and angry and the top layer of skin use to slowly peel back but now its looking a lot better.

Jamie - posted on 02/23/2011

Try looking at mybuttonbuddies.com ir feeding essentials. They are super cute and more absorbant than gauze, My son has had his for over 8 mos and he still has redness. Drives me nuts, but I dont think anything works very well so far for that.