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Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tubes |
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| You need a
gastrostomy tube |
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| The gastrostomy tube is required because of the
difficulties you are having with swallowing. It is placed through
the skin of your abdominal wall into your stomach and liquid foods
can be given through it, directly into your stomach. |
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P = |
Percutaneous
through the skin |
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E = |
Endoscopic
using an endoscope; a flexible fibreoptic tube-like
instrument with a light and camera on the end. An endoscope
enables the inside of your stomach to be examined through
your mouth. |
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G = |
Gastrostomy an
artificial opening through the abdominal wall into the
stomach through which a tube can be placed. |
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Tube = |
The actual
tube is designed specifically for feeding and is made out of
a soft, flexible but durable silicone material. |
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| How to
prepare |
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You should expect to stay the night in hospital
after your P.E.G. tube is inserted because you will need intravenous
antibiotics and education about the tube. Please prepare an
overnight bag to bring with you.
Prior to P.E.G. tube insertion, your stomach must be empty so the
doctor can see clearly.
Please follow the
instructions below according to your appointment time:
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Morning Appointments |
Afternoon Appointments |
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Have nothing to eat or drink and/or stop naso-gastric
feeding after 10 pm the night before the procedure. |
Have nothing to eat or drink and/or stop naso-gastric
feeding after a light breakfast at 7am on the day of your
procedure. |
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| Before the
procedure |
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| On your arrival at the department, your nurse will
meet you and ask you some questions about your general health. You
will be asked what medication you are currently taking, so please
bring all your medications with you.
A nurse or doctor will put an injection port into a vein in
your arm through which sedating and pain relieving medication
can be given to you. You will not be completely asleep, but the
medication may make you forget what has happened.
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| During the
procedure |
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| You will be asked to lie on your left side. Two
doctors, or a doctor and an experienced nurse will put your tube in.
Another nurse will monitor you and keep you informed about what’s
happening.
One doctor will pass an endoscope into your mouth and you will
be asked to swallow to enable it to pass down easily into your
stomach. At this point the assistant will inject local
anaesthetic into the skin of your abdominal area where the
P.E.G. tube will be sited. A needle with a hollow shaft is
inserted into this numb area, until the doctor with the
endoscope sees the tip of it enter the inside of your stomach.
The assistant will thread a special wire through the needles’
hollow shaft, until it reaches the inside of your stomach.
The doctor with the endoscope will get hold of the wire and by
gently withdrawing the endoscope the wire can be pulled into a
position so that it runs continuously between the outside of
your abdomen, the inside of your stomach and the outside of your
mouth. Using the wire as a guide, the doctor slides the feeding
tube into place starting from your mouth. The wire is completely
removed as the tube is put into place.
After insertion, one end of the feeding tube will rest
internally against your stomach wall. The other end will be on
the outside of your abdomen, coming through your skin. To keep
the feeding tube in place, a short cross-piece of tube (or
flange) sits snuggly at the level of your skin where the tube
comes out to your abdomen. |
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| After the
Procedure |
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| Once the P.E.G. is inserted you will be wheeled on
your bed into the recovery room. You will be monitored by your nurse
until you are fully awake and ready to transfer to a ward for a stay
overnight. |
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| Safety and
Risks |
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| P.E.G. tube insertion is relatively safe but
occasionally problems arise. Bleeding or infection can occur around
the tube placement site, and infrequently damage to other abdominal
organs may occur.
These complications are rare, and the majority of patients
will have the procedure performed in a straightforward manner.
If you wish to know more details of rare complications, you
should indicate to your nurse prior to the tube insertion that
you wish to discuss all complications fully with the doctor. |
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All
about the insertion of your
P.E.G. Tube
Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tube |
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| Prior to your procedure nurse would like to have a
10 minute phone conversation with you to assess your health /
special needs. This is a good opportunity to discuss any concerns.
Please contact a nurse, Telephone (09) 307 4949 and enter 7357.
Nurses are available from 0800 to 1600 hours. |
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Ministry of Health
