in your mouth to keep it open during the procedure.
The doctor will spray a drug on the back of your throat to numb your throat. The doctor will use a flexible tube with a light and camera on the end to see the stomach. This tube is an endoscope. The doctor will pass this tube through the mouth and esophagus into the stomach.The camera at the end of the tube sends pictures to a screen in the operating room. These pictures let your doctor find the spot in your stomach to put the PEG or feeding tube.You are given a numbing injection where the PEG tube will exit your belly. Then the doctor puts a needle through your belly into the stomach. The doctor can see the end of the needle with the camera.The doctor will put a thin wire through the needle into the stomach.Then, the PEG tube will be attached to the wire. A small cut is made where the PEG tube and wire will be pulled through. The wire will be pulled gently out towards the belly. The PEG tube will be put in position.The doctor will pull the wire out when the tube is in place. A bumper or balloon will hold the PEG tube in position. The doctor will tape the PEG tube to your belly.Your doctor will cover the wound site with clean bandages.This procedure takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
What happens after the procedure?
- You will go to the Recovery Room and the staff will watch you closely.
- You may have a band around your belly.
- Tape will hold the PEG tube to your belly.
- You may see drainage around the PEG tube for 24 to 48 hours.
- You will have a sterile gauze around the cut site. Change the gauze as needed.
- The staff will put water through the PEG tube 3 to 24 hours after the procedure.
- You may feel pain around the cut site of the tube. Your doctor will give you drugs to help with the pain.
- Your doctor will tell you when you can go home.
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Take care of your skin and teeth.
- The cut site takes about 5 days to heal.
- Avoid creams and powders around the PEG tube unless ordered by the doctor.
- Keep the skin around the PEG tube clean and dry.
- Clean the outside of the PEG tube with soap and water using a cotton-tipped swab.
- Do not put bandages between the bumper of the PEG tube and your skin.
- It is important that you take care of your teeth and mouth even though you are not eating regular food. Brush your teeth regularly and visit your dentist.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut site. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages
- When you may take a bath or shower
- If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work, driving, or sex
- Learn how to care for your PEG tube.
- Wash your hands before and after cleaning the PEG tube.
- Your doctor or dietitian will order a liquid food diet to put through your feeding tube. They will order the exact amount of food and water you will need each day.
- Take your drugs as ordered by your doctor. Most drugs can be crushed, put in water, and given through the feeding tube. Ask your doctor about your drugs. Ask if they can all be crushed and given through the feeding tube.
- Do not push or pull the tube. Keep it in place.
- Flush the PEG tube with warm water 4 times a day to prevent clogging.
- Talk to your doctor about what to do if your PEG tube gets clogged.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Leakage of stomach contents around the tube
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Clog in the tube
- Tube falls out
- Skin irritation
Where can I learn more?
American College of Gastroenterology ‚
http://patients.gi.org/topics/percutaneous-endoscopic-gastrostomy-peg/ ‚
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy ‚
http://www.asge.org/patients/patients.aspx?id=394 ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚