Whats involved in placing a PEG tube?
Placement of a gastrostomy tube generally takes about half an hour. The procedure can be done with heavy sedation and local anesthesia, or under general anesthesia. Most people experience moderate pain for up to several days after tube placement. This pain can generally be relieved well with pain medication. I prefer to admit patients to the hospital a day in advance of placing the PEG. This permits me to use intravenous fluids to correct dehydration and to give respiratory treatments to maximize lung function. Generally, I don’t begin tube feeding until the day after placement of the PEG tube. Keeping the patient in the hospital after placing the PEG also permits teaching the patient and family how to use the PEG. The insertion procedure is generally performed by a gastroenterologist (stomach specialist). Q: Is the PEG tube noticeable? A: The PEG tube is cosmetically good. Most people use it several times a day, the same as taking meals. When not being used, the PEG tube can be placed
