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.
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.
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
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 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.
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.
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.
Main Difference Between G Tube and J Tube
- 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.
- 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.
References
- https://adc.bmj.com/content/86/2/134.short
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1469-8749.2003.tb00942.x
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