Difference Between G Tube and J Tube (With Table)

A lot of times, situations arise wherein people are not able to take the essential nutrients in the body through their mouth. It is, however, essential to ensure that the nutrients reach the body. The same is the case with babies. To assure that the adequate level of nutrients reaches the body, other ways have been developed. 

In cases where a person’s oral intake stops or is reduced, food has to be transferred through the gastrointestinal tract. Such kind of feeding is mostly tolerable for most patients. Hence, it is a commonly used manner of transferring food to the body.

The two commonly used tubes to feed such patients are the G-tube and the J-tube. Both these tubes help to supply the nutrients to the bodies of people whose gastrointestinal tract is functional, but they are unable to take in food using their both. 

G Tube vs J Tube

The difference between the G-tube and the J tube is that the G-tube stands for a gastrostomy feeding tube and is inserted to the stomach by a small cut in the abdomen. On the other hand, the J-tube stands for a jejunostomy feeding tube and is inserted into the middle part of a small intestine. 

Comparison Table Between the G tube and J tube

Parameter of Comparison	G Tube	J Tube
Stands for	G-tube stands for a Gastrostomy feeding tube.	J-tube stands for Jejunostomy feeding tube
Inserted in	The G-tube is inserted in the stomach by making a small cut in the abdomen.	The J-tube is inserted in the middle part of the small intestine.
Main use	The main use of the G-tube is to provide the body with the required medications and food as well as to release the stomach gases.	The main use of J-tube is to supply the body with essential nutrients and medications.
Changing procedure	The G tubes can be changed at home mostly.	The J tubes cannot be changed at home mostly.
Time	The G tube makes the supply of nutrients faster because of the large area of the stomach.	The J tube takes a lot of time to supply nutrients.
Appropriate	The G-tube is suitable for patients who have difficulty in swallowing.	The J-tube is suitable for patients who are suffering from chronic vomiting
Placement	The G-tube can be placed endoscopically and surgically.	The J-tube is placed either endoscopically, laparoscopically or through the gastric bypass procedure.

What is G Tube?

The G tube is the most commonly used tube which is used for people who are not able to take in their required nutrients. People who need some kind of nutrient support have to depend on the G tube for this. The G tube is inserted into the stomach by making a small cut in the abdomen. It is used not just to supply the body with the essential nutrients and medications, but also to release out the stomach gases and for gastric drainage. 

The G tube can be placed endoscopically (creating an opening from the inside) or surgically (through a small or large incision). These tubes have to placed in the patients at hospitals. They can be easily changes at home. The procedure of changing is comparatively simpler.

What is J Tube?

J tube is another commonly used medical device which helps provide the body with adequate nutrients and medications. This is done by inserting the tube into the middle part of the intestine. They are mostly used in situations when the G tubes cannot be used or in situations when the tube has to be put for permanent use. They are a bit complex and cannot be changed at home. Radiology is required to change the tubes. 

J tubes are mostly long tubes or in the form of buttons. J Tubes can be placed either laparoscopically( direct incision to the small intestine) or thorough a gastric bypass procedure. They are suitable for people who are suffering from chronic vomiting or for those who are at high risk for aspiration. The only drawback is that they sometimes might cause irritation.

Main Difference Between G Tube and J Tube

1. The full form of G tube is Gastrostomy feeding tube, whereas the full form of the J tube is Jejunostomy feeding tube.
2. The G tube is used to supply the body with the essential nutrients and medications as well as for gastric drainage whereas, on the other hand, the J tube is used to provide the body with the essential nutrients.
3. The G tube is inserted into the stomach whereas the J tube is inserted into the small intestine.
4. Most of the G tubes are easy to change and can be done at home, whereas most of the J tubes cannot be changed at home.
5. The G tube takes less time to supply the body with the essential nutrients or medications whereas, on the other hand, the J tube takes more time to supply the nutrients to the body. It can take up to 24 hours for the nutrients to reach the body.
6. The G tube is placed endoscopically and surgically whereas on the other hand, the J tube is placed laparoscopically, and via gastric bypass procedure or Roux-en-Y.
7. The G tube is best suited for patients who are having difficulty to swallow food, whereas on the other J Tube is best suited for patients who are suffering from vomiting and low gastric motility. 

Conclusion

The G-tube and J-tube are essential medical devices that help patients who are not able to take in the essential minerals and vitamins in the body. These tubes help such patients by supplying the required medications to the body.

Both these tubes are used on different kinds of patients and are used in different ways. The G tube is placed in the stomach via the abdomen whereas the J tube is placed in the middle part of the intestine. The G tubes are simple and can be changed at home, whereas this is not possible with the J tubes.

References

1. https://adc.bmj.com/content/86/2/134.short
2. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1469-8749.2003.tb00942.x

Last update on 2021-08-02 / Amazon Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API