Patient Education :

PERCUTANEOUS ENDOSCOPIC GASTROSTOMY

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is an endoscopic medical procedure in which a tube (PEG tube) is passed into a patient's stomach through the abdominal wall, most commonly to provide a means of feeding when oral intake is not adequate. The procedure is an alternative to surgical gastrostomy insertion, and does not require a general anesthetic;mild sedation is typically used.PEG administration of enteral feeds is the most commonly used method of nutritional support for patients in the community. Many strokepatients, for example, are at risk of aspiration pneumonia due to poor control over the swallowing muscles; some will benefit from a PEG performed to maintain nutrition.