Explanation

PEG stand for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. It's a small tube that goes into your stomach through an opening in your abdomen. It's used so a doctor can give you liquid food directly into your stomach. This means you don't need to chew or swallow food when you have a PEG.

Why do I need a PEG?

You may need a PEG if, for any reason, you are having problems swallowing food or you can't eat enough food to help you grow.

PEG can also be used to let extra gas out of your stomach when you have had a fundoplication procedure.

What happens before I have a PEG?

Your doctor will explain to you why you need PEG and how it's going to be done. He or she might tell you to avoid taking some medicines, such as aspirin or ibuprofen a week before the operation, because they can lead to more bleeding during the operation.

Make sure you don't eat or drink anything from the midnight the day before your operation.

How is a PEG done?

You will first get an anaesthetic so you'll be asleep while a doctor is doing PEG.

Your doctor will pass an endoscope down your throat and into your stomach to help put the tube in the right place. He or she will then make a small cut on your tummy and put the PEG tube through the wall of your stomach. A small balloon inside your stomach and a small plastic circle on your skin helps to keep the tube in place, so it doesn't slip in or out. The tube will then be connected to a special pump that will deliver nutrient straight into your stomach or you will use a syringe.

If your doctor can't use endoscopy to guide the tube into your stomach for some reason he or she may put a feeding tube in by using x-ray photos instead of endoscopy. This is then called a radiologically inserted gastrostomy tube (RIG).

Will a PEG hurt?

You will get a general anaesthetic so it won't hurt while you are having it put in. Your throat and tummy might be a bit sore for a couple of days but this will go away.

What happens after I have a PEG?

You will stay in the hospital for a few days until you recover from the operation. Usually you will need to keep your tube in even when you go home. If this is the case your doctor will explain to you how to use it and how to take care of it.

How do I take care of my PEG tube?

First of all don't worry - it might sound scary at first, but you will quickly get used to having a PEG tube, and your doctor or a nurse will be there to answer any questions you may have about it.

Your doctor will explain to you how and when to have the liquid food through your tube. Usually, you will get a small amount of food most of the time with a break for a few hours each day.

You'll need to take care not to pull your tube out. If you do this by mistake you should contact your doctor or a hospital immediately so they can fix it.

You will also have to keep your tube and the opening in your skin clean. Your doctor will give you instructions about how to keep your tube clean and how to change the dressing on the opening.

You will probably need to replace the tube with a new one after 6 months if you still need it by then.

If you notice any of the following things you should tell your doctor as soon as possible:

the opening is red and sore

there is lots of liquid coming out around the tube

there is skin or scar tissue growing over the hole where the tube goes in

you're vomiting (being sick) or feeling pain after or during feeding

your feeding tube is blocked.

What if I have any other questions about my PEG?

If you have any other questions, you can ask your doctor, or chat to other people about PEG or feeding tubes in the Medikidz forums and virtual world, Mediland.