Quick question - Maalox at G-tube sites?

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

One of the assigned pediatric pts tomorrow has Maalox applied topically around G-tube site (Mic-Key button). I have never heard of Maalox being used in this way before. Any insights on this?

Thanks! :)

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Let's think about this for a second. What do we give Maalox for? What does it do? Why might we put it on a GT stoma (particularly a Mic-Key button)?

Now that I've got you thinking about it, I'm sure these are the answers you came up with... We give it for heartburn, which is causes by hyperacidity. It buffers gastric secretions. If the stoma is leaking, and a lot of them do, the leakage is acidic and causes tissue injury. The Maalox will neutralize the acid and the aluminum hydroxide in it will cause a little local drying, so the eroded stoma can heal. And the Mic-Key especially is because the button sits flush with the skin, trapping acid secretions under the flange, making the whole problem worse. Makes sense? Another, more costly treatment for this problem and the severe excoriation some children experience with very acidic diarrhea is a mixture of sucralfate and zinc oxide. I call it Wonder Paste. I've seen it turn a bumburger into a healthy, intact, smooth pink cheek in a matter of days.

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

Thank you so much! This is very helpful :)

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

i many times have used maalox for severe skin excoriations .