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G Tube Feeding Program
The G Tube Feeding Program uses a multidisciplinary approach to support families along the continuum of tube feeding – from primary insertion to tube weaning, to permanent tube removal to transition to adult care. We aim to be the leading paediatric gastrostomy tube feeding program in Canada by:
- Making sure patients and their families are the main focus of all our goals.
- Working with others to make the most of the knowledge we have.
- Providing the highest quality and safest care by following the best practices and clinical guidelines.
- Using information to keep track, understand, improve, and come up with new ideas that will improve the health of our patients.
Meet our team
Our dedicated team of nurses, supported by medical and operational leads, is passionate about providing the best care for children who rely on tube feeding. We work closely with Interventional Radiologists in IGT and other interprofessional team members to educate families and health-care providers, create valuable resources, and advance the field of tube feeding care.
Nurse Practitioners support families through the decision of proceeding with primary placement of a feeding tube for their child.
To better understand the indication, benefits, and risks and make the best decision for each patient and family we need:
- A comprehensive review of the patient’s medical history.
- Nutrition/feeding history.
- The family’s unique circumstances, life and values.
We provide in-depth consults for open, credible and honest discussions with families about life with a feeding tube.
G Tube Nurse Practitioners:
- Silvana Oppedisano
- Samantha Cicciarella
Contact Information:
Phone: 416-813-7274 / 416-813-7654 ext 224526
Fax: 416-813-6526
Email: g.tubenp@sickkids.ca
The G Tube Resources Nurses support patients and families after primary tube insertion. Their role includes:
- Care of the stoma.
- Troubleshooting tube issues.
- Teaching families how to change a balloon style G tube.
- Triaging tube related requests in IGT.
- Supporting the transition to adult care.
G Tube Resource Nurses:
- Danielle Loveland
- Holly Norgrove
- Jodi Enns
Contact Information:
- Phone: 416-813-7177
- Fax: 416-813-6526
- Email: g.tubenurse@sickkids.ca
The Registered Dietitian works closely with the patient's core team to support families in making the decision to proceed with the primary placement of a feeding tube. The dietitian also supports patients and families at the time of insertion, and liases with inpatient teams to streamline feeding via their new tube.
Team members:
- Operational Director: Christine Hill
- Medical Director: Dr. Sanjay Mahant
- Registered Dietitian: Chloe Kavcic
Clinical guideline
The Enterostomy Stoma Assessment Clinical Practice Guideline supports health care providers with managing stoma issues in patients with a G, GJ, combination G/GJ and/or J tube. The purpose of the clinical practice guideline is to:
- Provide a standardized approach to the assessment and management of common stoma issues, including comparisons between skin issues such as infection, hypergranulation tissue and contact dermatitis.
- Offer an interactive, visually focused tool that promotes streamlined care and ongoing clinical thinking about appropriate wound swabbing, antibiotic therapies and documentation and follow-up practices.
- Optimize the patient experience by quickly identifying stoma issues.
Patient resources
Community and parent education support: The G Tube Feeding Program collaborates closely with Connected Care to provide education of patients, family caregivers and community health care providers.