Peg tube is abbreviation for Percutaneous Endoscopic Gatrostomy and commonly known as feeding tube. The material used for making this tube is silicone, which gives it flexibility and suppleness to glide easily through a small incision to reach into the stomach. The tip of the feeding tube, somewhat like a balloon, helps in holding the feeding tube in its place. The other end of the feeding tube remains outside on the skin secured with medicated tapes. Feeding tubes are used for feeding the patient due to medical condition. It is not a permanent source or solution to provide nutrition liquid food or medicines to the patient.
Patients with certain serious medical conditions need feeding tube. If a person is unable to eat and drink, have aspirate problem or breathe in food need the feeding tube. Another group of patients who have trouble in swallowing and they cannot perform this process properly need feeding tube. Inability to swallow in the correct manner is due to a number of reasons that include Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Dementia, and Stroke or due to injury to the brain. Patients are unable to swallow the food properly due to some types of cancer. Peg tube insertion process prescribed for them helps in providing liquid nutritious elements and medicines to them.
There are some other procedures available as an alternate to feeding tube but it depends upon the condition of the patient and decision of the doctor entirely. Doctor performs the procedure of inserting the feeding tube at procedure room in the hospital but in case of an emergency, the procedure takes place in the Intensive Care Unit as well. The whole procedure takes up to 30 minutes. Before the procedure starts the patient, receives a dose of relaxing medicine to relax and prepare for the insertion.
The procedure is painless but if the patient complaints of any pain he is suppose to inform the nurse. The peg tube glides down the small incision on the skin to reach the stomach easily. The doctor performs this procedure with help of a special camera. The doctor places the tube inside the stomach and the other end is taped on the outer skin. The only discomfort and pain the patient might feel after the procedure is due to the insertion site or the opening around the feeding tube.
The procedure is considered to be safe and harmless. Although there are exceptions in everything so very rarely there might be a serious issue due to this procedure reported by the patient. Otherwise, it is not associated to any serious painful medical conditions. Every medical procedure always has a risk of infection, irritation on the skin or bleeding but the doctors and hospital staff takes care of that. The patient is administered medicines after the procedure through the feeding tube to overrule any risk of infection, soreness, hardness or irritations.
After the successful procedure, the patient is allowed to have water through the peg tube. It usually takes 24 hours before any other liquid nutrition diet or formula food is administered to the patient. The nutritionist decides how much of the liquid nutrition and water is suitable for the need of the patient. The family of the patient receives the learning on how to feed and care for the feeding tube. The patient learns how to take care of the feeding tube and is not supposed to pull on the tube. The area around the tube should be cleaned by using warm water 3-4 times daily.
Some patients can suffer from the clogging of the feeding tube. Flushing it with some warm water will help remove the clog. The other issues with feeding tube are blockage, wear or fall out. In such cases, the tube is replaced under the same procedure as before. Some medical conditions such as vomiting or diarrhea are critical conditions that need medical attention immediately. Other medical conditions that need to call upon the nurse are fever, itchy skin and redness, drainage or any signs of infection around the insertion site. If the patient feels uncomfortable or unable to move after the feeding or finds any resistance in pushing the food through the feeding tube, he requires urgent medical attention.
The patient leaves hospital remaining under observation of the doctor for a few days or for as long as the doctors recommends. The patient should call upon medical attention immediately in case of soreness, hardness and bloating in the surrounding of the tube or stomach. If blood comes out of the tube or around the insertion site or peg tube comes out of place or leaks during feeding under such conditions call upon the doctor immediately. Patients and their families should always consult and ask the doctor every question that comes to their mind. It is very necessary for the patient to relax and prepared for the procedure.