Feeding tube insertion - gastrostomy

Alternative Names: Gastrostomy tube insertion; G-tube insertion; PEG tube insertion; Stomach tube insertion; Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube insertion

A gastrostomy feeding tube insertion is the placement of a feeding tube through the skin and the stomach wall, directly into the stomach.

Description of Procedure

Gastrostomy feeding tube insertion is done in part using a procedure called endoscopy. For information on how this procedure is done, see: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).

After the endoscopy tube is inserted, the skin over the left side of belly (abdomen) area is cleaned and numbed. The doctor makes a small surgical cut in this area and inserts a small, flexible, hollow tube with a balloon or special tip into the stomach. The doctor uses stitches to close the stomach around the tube.

Risks of Feeding tube insertion - gastrostomy

Risks for any anesthesia are:

• Reactions to medications
• Problems breathing

Risks for surgical or endoscopic feeding tube insertion are:

• Bleeding
• Infection

Gastrostomy tube placement - series

Review Date: 4/26/2010
Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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