Feeding - jejunostomy tube; G-J tube; J-tube; Jejunum tube; PEJ tube
A jejunostomy tube (J-tube) is a soft, plastic tube placed through the skin of the abdomen into the midsection of the small intestine. The tube delivers food and medicine until you are healthy enough to eat by mouth.
You'll need to know how to care for the J-tube and your skin where the tube enters your body.
Follow any specific instructions your health care provider or nurse gives you. Use the information below as a reminder of what to do.
It is important to take good care of your skin around the tube to avoid getting an infection or skin irritation.
You will also learn how to change the dressing around your tube. After the area heals, if the tube is not leaking you may not need to put a dressing around it every day.
Make sure you keep the tube protected by taping it to the skin.
Your nurse may replace your tube every now and then.
To clean the skin, you will need to change the bandages once a day or more if the area becomes wet or dirty.
The skin area should always be kept clean and dry. You will need:
Follow these guidelines every day for good health and skin care:
You will need:
Your nurse will show you how to place the new bandages or gauze around the tube and tape it securely to the abdomen.
Usually, split gauze strips are slipped over the tube and taped down on all four sides. Tape the tube down as well.
Do not use creams, powders, or sprays near the site unless your provider or nurse says it is OK.
To flush the J-tube, follow the instructions your provider or nurse gave you. You will use the syringe to slowly push warm water into the side opening of the J-port. It's extremely important to flush the tube at the end of a feeding or after receiving medicine. This will help keep the tube from clogging.
You may rinse, dry, and reuse the syringe later.
You will be taught ways to try to unclog the tube if needed.
Contact your provider right away if any of the following occur:
Brown LB, Gearhart SL. Gastrointestinal tubes for feeding and decompression. In: Camerson JL, Camerson AM, eds. Current Surgical Therapy. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:119-123.
Cederholm TE, Bosaeus IG. Malnutrition: assessment and support. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 198.
BACK TO TOPReview Date: 10/30/2024
Reviewed By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Gastroenterologist, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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