My husband’s tube has pretty bad leaking, we change gauze like twice for each feed, is that normal? Granulation kept forming around the site, his doc treated it was silver nitrate, and removal extra skin, it kept coming back.

His medical oncologist placed g tube for him, but should a GI doc do that?

Feeding tubes can and will need to be replaced for all sorts of reasons. Leaking that much is NOT normal! The drain sponge should be changed at least once a day, more if theres a problem like granulation of leaking. Patients that leave a wet drain sponge in place can end up with an infection. Granulation can hurt like heck!!! Call the gastro doc who did the original placement and ask for an office visit/consult wi9th them. Your husband could need to have the current tube exchanged for a new one. Unfortunately, feeding tubes dont always have the best support after they're placed. Patients who have a feeding tube should NOT be lifting anything heavy, under 290 pounds is fine but nothing over! I have silver sulfadine cream that I use around the tube site covered with a double drain sponge to help avoid granulation. If your husband doesnt already have this ask the doc for a prescription. It only takes a very little amount (so you can see thru the thin to be effective. Use a qtip to spread a thin coating of cream around the site,

Best wishes!!!

My husband had a leaking tube as well as granulation at one point in his treatment. The interventional radiologist looked at it and said he could replace it but it was complicated. It involved putting in a tube at a nearby spot, etc, etc. He sent us to a wound specialist who suggested doing what ChristineB said in her post above. The visiting nurse told us never try to clean the insertion point by rubbing it too hard. We should just dab it gently with some gauze, then put the cream on it and cover it with the drain sponge. Hope this helps.

the feeding tube was the worst part of my husband's treatment process. they finally replaced it half way through and then after it was removed, they had to do surgery to suture the hole as it would not heal. He put up with the issues way too long.

Thanks all for replies.

Steve is having surgery again tomorrow, the 4th time in hospital in ~2 months, it is really hard for both of us and our 16 yo daughter.
I spoke to his oncology surgeon who placed his tube for other solution, hopefully he remove tumor and fix his gtube too.

Heather,

A GI placed both of my tubes. The first one I had “yanked” out by a GI doctor since I wasn’t using it anymore, but I needed one a month later due to a recurrence, and that was put in by a different GI doctor at the site in the stomach that healed over. I did have trouble through the years towards the end of the 6th year when the tube actually broke so I clanked it off. This last tube couldn’t be yanked out, but had to be taken out though my esphogus under sedation. Under sedation I was awakened with the team pulling the tube out of my throat when I was awakened, and staff holding me down, and I think I had more sedation to knock me out.

After, the hole was still leaking for a few months, and not healing, so I needed surgery to close it by suture and burning of off. I haven’t had a problem since

It helped me through the years when I couldn’t or had difficulty eating, and was like a security blanket. I do feel better now without it.

Good luck with the next tube placement.

Steve’s surgery went well yesterday, his oncologist replaced the gtube w a Gj tube, hopefully this won’t give as much trouble. His oncologist said he has only seen 2-3 cases of great problem like his, he is probably in his 70s.

Btw, his surgery lasted for 6.5hrs yesterday, they removed tissue from bottom soft palate, reconstruct the area using skin from his arm.

Thanks again, everyone.