Review of Gastrostomy Tubes: Feeding methods and site care. Presented by Jacqui Bailey, APD
As dietitians we come across people, who for various reasons, are unable to eat or drink and require enteral feeding.
Until now, dietitians have often maintained a fairly passive approach to their role of caring for someone with a gastrostomy tube. We greet our gastrostomy clients and order their tube feed. We haven’t always identified as the ones who provide the hands-on practical care.
Jacqui Bailey, senior clinical dietitian at Austin Health has an active, consultative and educative role involving gastrostomy tubes.
In her webinar Jacqui explains how the dietitians’ role is simply not ordering the tube feed and heading for the hills. Jacqui explains with confidence the role that the dietitian can have in caring for a client with a gastrostomy.
In her presentation Jacqui describes how to work with clients so they can self-manage their gastrostomy tubes:
- Ensure the position of the tube is correct
- Teach your client to rotate the tube so a healthy stoma is formed
- Care for the underlying skin
- Look after the tube when not in use
- Troubleshoot problems
Jacqui gives us the tools to expand our confidence, skills and potentially our role as all-round gastrostomy experts.
Understanding the features of gasrostomy tubes is essential for understanding how they should be managed and cared for:
The dietitians' role in clients with gastrostomy tubes can be expanded to be practical and hands-on:
