PEG tubes

If a clot forms and travels through the cardiac arteries, a stroke or heart attack can occur. Patients who suffer from a stroke due to a blockage in the heart are often left temporarily or permanently paralyzed. They can be left unable to eat or obtain medications through their mouths. When this is the case, the patients are inserted with a PEG tube to give them nutrients and medications directly into their stomachs. A PEG tube is a percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy tube. An endoscope is used to insert the PEG tube through your skin and into your stomach. The end of the tube that sits inside your stomach is held in place by stitches to ensure it does not slide outside of the stomach. The other end of the tube is secured outside of the body on the skin of the abdomen. A PEG tube has several purposes. It can be used to feed the patient or insert medications directly into the stomach. It can also be used to decompress the stomach by letting air or fluids out of the gastric cavity by connected the external end of the tube to a suctioning machine or bag. The most common reason a PEG tube is inserted to decompress the stomach to prevent vomiting. Patients that have trouble eating or swallowing benefit tremendously by PEG tube insertion. Patients with severe dementia, Parkinson disease or have had head injury or a stroke often receive PEG tube placement to help them with nourishment. When a patient has a blocked bowel, the PEG tube will be used to suction contents out of the stomach so it cannot continue into the bowels.