Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tubes
‘PEG Feeding Tubes’
Patient Information Leaflet
March 2014
What is a Gastrostomy – PEG tube?
A Gastrostomy is a surgically made stoma (hole) in the stomach. When
someone cannot eat or drink properly or enough to meet their nutritional
requirements a Gastrostomy (PEG) tube may be suggested. A PEG tube is
a thin flexible tube that passes through the hole in the stomach. It allows
food, drinks and medication to be fed directly into the stomach.
What are the benefits?
You may need a PEG tube inserting because you can’t eat or drink
enough (or nothing at all) and therefore you are unable to meet your
nutritional needs. The reasons for this could be;
 Unable to swallow, after a stroke for example
 Treatment or illness has caused problems swallowing
 To provide extra nutrition if needed, for example prior to surgery
As well as using the PEG tube some patients can eat and drink normally,
BUT only if agreed by your consultant.
A few people can become well enough to meet their nutritional needs;
this would allow the PEG to be removed. This would be on the advice of
your consultant only.
You may want to discuss a tube being placed with your family. Your
consent must be obtained, if you cannot give consent for medical
reasons your consultant will have to do this on your behalf if he/she feels
this is in your best interest.
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How is it inserted?
You cannot have anything to eat or drink for at least 6 hours before the
procedure.
Some medication will also need to be stopped, for example warfarin,
clopidogrel and heparin.
If you are diabetic, management of your blood sugar and medication will
be arranged by the ward doctor and nurse.
You will be given sedation to help you feel relaxed and sleepy; this is not a
general anaesthetic.
A gastroscope will be passed through your mouth and into your stomach,
this has a small camera inside and your stomach will be viewed on a TV
monitor.
An area on your abdomen will be made numb with an injection of local
anaesthetic. A small cut will be made into your abdominal wall and the
tube will be passed through this cut. The procedure takes about 20
minutes; you will then go back to your ward to recover or be admitted to
a ward if you have come from home. Instructions how to look after the
tube will be given to your ward staff.
Do I have to stay in hospital?
If you are otherwise medically fit you will need to stay in hospital until you
are settled on your feeding regime and the stoma is healing satisfactorily,
on average 4 – 5 days.
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Are there any risks involved?
 You will be reviewed by your doctor before a tube is placed to
ensure that you are well enough to recover from the procedure.
 There is a risk of aspiration when the tube is being placed, this
means fluid may spill into your lungs and cause a chest infection.
 Occasionally a tube cannot be placed because of problems found
in the stomach, such as ulceration. Even rarer, we are unable to
identify an adequate area; you may be referred to a surgeon for
surgical placement.
 The most common complication is infection of the stoma.
 All measures will be taken to avoid any risks or complications.
What are the alternatives?
There are other methods of ensuring you are getting enough nutrition,
such as naso-gastric tubes, which are not ideal long term. It may be that
you need high calorific food or thickened foods, these alternatives may
not be appropriate for you but can be discussed with the dietitian who
looks after your ward.
How will I know how to look after the tube?
If you are going to a nursing home they will have members of staff who
have been trained to take care of PEG tubes. If you are going back to
you own home, you need to be aware that you and your family/carer
have to take responsibility for using and caring for the tube. Before you go
home the ward staff will ask the dietitian to show you and your
relative/carer how to take care of the tube. She will also explain the
system for ordering feed. There is also a Nutrition Nurse Specialist who
works in the community and she will be able to support and advise you
once you are home.
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What possible problems should I look out for?
 Sometimes the tube can get blocked. If this happens flushing the
tube with warm water can help.
 The stoma site can become infected. If the skin around the tube
becomes sore and red you should contact your community nurses,
you may need antibiotics.
 Once you have had a tube placed if there is anything you are
concerned about you can contact the specialist nurses at the
hospital or in the community, contact numbers at the end of this
information leaflet.
Source of good practice
British Society of Gastroenterologist
Stroud M, Duncan H, Nightingale J Guidelines for enteral feeding in
adult hospital patients GUT 2003
March 2014
Other useful contacts
Community Nutrition Nurse
Tameside and Glossop PCT
June Shepley
07796958796
Gastroenterology Nurse Specialist
Tameside Foundation Trust
Jane Bartlett
0161 331 6546
If you have a visual impairment this leaflet can be made available
in bigger print or on audiotape. If you require either of these
options please contact the Patient Information Centre on 0161 331
5332
March 2014
Author
Division/Department
Date created
J Bartlett and Dr Shaath
[email protected]
Gastroenterology
September 2009
Revised 2011/2014
Ref Number
Version
March 2014
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