How to Put on a Drain Sponge for G Tube Site
G tubes, short for gastronomy tubes, are an essential part of life for many people who cannot get nutrition through normal swallowing. G tubes can be either temporary or permanent, although most patients fitted with a G tube have it for at least six months. Proper cleaning is necessary to prevent infection, and drain sponges are vital to keep the tube site clean and sterile. Applying a drain sponge is not difficult, although it needs to be done frequently for optimal health.
Instructions
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1
Wash the G tube site with warm soap and water. Dip a section of clean gauze in soapy water and gently wash the tube site, rinsing the soap off with another section of gauze. Allow the site to air dry to prevent trapping moisture under the dressing.
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2
Lift the end of the G tube gently and slide the drain sponge around the tube. The sponge has a large, square end and a split along its other end. The split section is designed to slide around the tube, and so slip the sponge along the tube until it rests between the forked ends of the sponge.
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3
Trim the ends of the sponge if they are too long. A properly dressed G tube site has at least 1 inch of dressing around all sides of the tube. If the ends of the sponge stick out farther than that, cut them with scissors to make dressing the site easier.
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4
Tape down the sponge. Run a line of medical tape around all four edges of the sponge to keep fluids from seeping out and to prevent foreign matter from invading the tube site. Use a good-quality medical tape to hold the sponge securely and to prevent skin irritation.
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Tips & Warnings
Wash your hands thoroughly before handling your dressing materials. G tubes can be infected if proper sterilization practices are not followed.
Never apply ointments to the G tube site unless specifically instructed to do so by your doctor. Many ointments may seem beneficial, but they actually can encourage bacterial growth, increasing the risk of infection.
