Services
Endoscopy Services
Gastrostomy Feeding Tube Placement (PEG/PEJ)
Nutrition is as important to our health as the air we breathe or the water we drink. When we are sick, nutrition is even more important.
Some patients cannot eat and drink the food and water they need because of cancer, stroke, surgery, or other conditions. These patients must be fed through a special tube. There are several different kinds of feeding tubs and sites in the body where they can be placed.
Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG)
PEG is a technique for placing a gastrostomy tube through the skin. (Percutaneous
means through the skin. An endoscope is a flexible tube with a light on the
end that is used to place a PEG tube properly in the stomach.)
IV sedation is given. Then the endoscope is gently passed through the patient’s mouth into the stomach, and the stomach is filled with air. The doctor now can see exactly where to place the tube in the stomach. The endoscope does not interfere with breathing.
Percutaneous Endoscopic Jejunostomy (PEJ)
For some patients being fed liquid diets, it is better if the feeding goes
directly to the intestine instead of first through the stomach. A tube called
a jejunostomy (je joo nos to me) or j-tube, can be inserted into the gastrostomy
tube and moved past the stomach into the top of the small intestine.
PEJ is used for patients whose stomach contents tend to flow back up into the esophagus (called gastroensophageal reflux).
How long is a patient tube fed?
Some patients may be tube fed for only a few months; others may receive their
nourishment this way for years. For long-term patients, the tube might need
to be replaced from time to time. After the first replacement tube is put
in by the doctor, its easy to replace the tube. Your health care professional
will answer any additional questions you may have.
Post PEG/PEJ Information/Instructions
Nutritional feedings, medications and care of the PEG tube will be decided
on by your physician. The PEG site may be tender for a few days and you many
see a small amount of drainage around the tube. It should be fully healed
in about a week. Call you physician if pain, swelling, redness, and/or drainage
develop around the tube. Be careful not to pull hard on the tube cause it
can become dislodged. Accidental removal of the feeding tube is usually not
a serious problem and often can be quickly remedied. Cover the site with
a dry dressing since there may be some drainage and call your physician to
reschedule feeding tube replacement as soon as possible.
For more information, call Mercy Endoscopy Services at 641.422.7394 or Dr. Sondhi’s office at 641.422.6783.