PEG Tube (Feeding Tube) Placement

When is a PEG tube necessary?

There are a few reasons why you or a loved one may need percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement, also called a feeding tube. People with ongoing trouble swallowing or a deformity in their mouth or throat may require a feeding tube to get enough food into their system. The PEG tube can also be used for patients to receive certain medications through it.

PEG tube placement allows for feeding directly into the GI tract, bypassing the mouth and stomach. Placement is a relatively simple surgery, but your Ogden Clinic gastroenterologist only recommends a feeding tube in the stomach for patients with complex digestive cases.

How is the PEG tube inserted?

Before the percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy procedure, your Ogden Clinic gastroenterologist will send pain reliever, sedative, and an antibiotic through your vein. The site where the PEG tube is going will receive a local anesthetic.

Your Ogden Clinic gastroenterologist inserts an endoscope down your esophagus to help visualize your stomach lining and ensure the tube is properly placed. Once your doctor can see your stomach, he/she will make a small abdominal incision and insert the feeding tube through the opening. The feeding tube is then secured in the stomach with tape and dressed up with sterile gauze.

A bit of bodily fluid may drain from the wound while it begins to heal. Your Ogden Clinic gastroenterologist will send you home with care and cleaning instructions for a safe recovery from percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. PEG tube placement can be permanent or temporary depending on the patient’s condition.

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