Gastrostomy (G, GJ, J) Complications — Initial versus Replacement Tubes — Clinical Pathway: Inpatient

G, GJ, J Tube Complications Clinical Pathway — Inpatient

Initial versus Replacement Tubes

Information about the inserting/managing service is located in the LDA in Epic.
See a sample LDA

Term Definition
New Tract
  • Any tract that is less than 6 weeks old, even if the tube has been changed during this 6 week period.
  • Prior to 6 weeks the tract is healing and there is a greater risk that a tube can be misplaced in the patient’s peritoneum if it becomes dislodged. Only the service that inserted the initial tube can re-insert a tube in a new tract.
Established Tract
  • Any tract that has healed for 6 weeks AND the initial tube has been changed by the service that placed the tube.
Initial G-tube/GJ tube/
J-tube
  • A tube that was initially placed by the service, Interventional Radiology or General Surgery.
  • Any tube regardless of length of time in place is an initial tube until it has been changed by the service that placed the tube.
  • If an initial tube has been replaced prior to the tract being established, it is still considered a new tract with a replacement tube.
Replacement G-tube/
GJ tube/J-tube
  • A tube that has been replaced by the service that placed the initial tube, Interventional Radiology or General Surgery.

Contact the appropriate service.