Dressing aids are relatively simple to use and can assist with a variety of dressing tasks. We recommend that you seek advice from an occupational therapist before buying equipment, or try them out at your local Equipment Demonstration or Independent Living Centre. For some of these items, practice and correct technique is needed to ensure you can use them effectively.

A Malecot® catheter may also be used as a primary gastrostomy device. This is a multifunction tube that is used in various locations in the body. When used as a gastrostomy feeding device, it is held in place in the stomach with wide, flat wings and a stitch, and then the outside portion is secured to the abdomen with a dressing. This is usually a short term device that will be changed after around six weeks, usually to a Mic-key™ button. If you need fastenings, use poppers or hook and loop velcro-style fastenings to make them easier to manage, either independently or with assistance from a carerClip and Pull is canvas strap and clip device is designed to help someone to pull trousers up with use of one hand only.

If you find it difficult to reach clothes once they are lowered, fit long loops of tape inside the waistband. Keep the loop around your wrist when you are seated on the toilet. When you need to pull the pants/trousers up, you can use the loop. There are also dressing aids, such as trouser clips, which might help

You should have a bath or shower and hair wash the night before the operation. You should remove any makeup, jewellery or nail varnish. You may need to stop taking some of your medications before your procedure. We have included some common examples below. Fastenings for clothing can be used to adapt existing clothing. This includes Velcro fastenings and zips that can be unzipped from either end. These fastenings may be easier to manage than buttons if you have reduced grip or dexterity in your hands and fingers. Gkolfakis P, Arvanitakis M, Despott EJ, et al. Endoscopic management of enteral tubes in adult patients – Part 2: Peri- and postprocedural management. European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline. Endoscopy. 2021;53(2):178-195.

If you have difficulty managing or holding layers of clothing when you go to the toilet, consider alternative ways of temporarily securing your clothes. There is equipment for this (for example a Pants aid) but you may find it easier to sew discrete loops and buttons to hold layers out of the wayCall the team at GOSH (or the On-Call Surgical Registrar out of hours) for urgent advice. Do not give any feed or medicine until you have spoken to the team.