Teens/
Young Adults

Before the feeding tube is placed, an actual PEG tube or a picture will be shown to you, along with specific information about how the tube will be placed. You or your loved one may be in the hospital for a few days after the procedure. You’ll be told what to expect regarding a timeline when the procedure is scheduled.

Bathe the night or morning before the procedure. You will be told not to eat or drink anything for several hours before the procedure is scheduled.

Your care team will talk about the tube and how it works, along with how to care for it. This information will be given to you again after the procedure.

Expect the procedure to take one to three hours. Teens or young adults will receive anaesthesia for the procedure and will then be in the post-anaesthesia recovery area for a few hours.

The care team will closely monitor you or your loved one after the procedure, from anywhere from a few hours to 24 hours. Tube feeds will gradually be started a few hours after the placement of the PEG tube.

For the first two weeks after placement the stoma site should be cleaned daily using gauze and sterile water. Start near the stoma site and move outwards in circular motions. Do not adjust the retention disc that keeps the PEG tube in place.

Expect to see the first days after placement some drainage (clear or blood-tinged) at the site. Gently remove any residue. Be sure to thoroughly rinse and dry the area afterwards.

Some redness after the procedure is normal and should go away in about three days.

After two weeks, the tube and stoma site can be cleaned with soap and water, rinse and dry the area afterwards. From that moment onwards the tube and disc need to be turned daily to make sure the skin doesn’t stick to it.

The gastrostomy tubing may pull to one side, and this may feel uncomfortable. Try looping the tubing in a gentle arch and then tape it to the abdomen. Sometimes a small roll of gauze near the stoma site can be used to rest the looped tubing on and then it can be taped in place. Try to not touch the tube very much, or if you’re the caregiver, monitor this activity to help prevent the tube from being pulled out.

Some pain medication might be given post-op, along with a prescription to take at home. Make sure the tube is flushed with water before and after the administration of medication.

Remember that oral care is still very important, even if food or medication is not taken orally. Frequent tooth brushing and rinsing your mouth several times a day is a good idea.

Before you leave the hospital, your care team will review instructions with you, including what supplies you’ll need or where you can get them, as well as how to your feeding supplies and when to call. Ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable before leaving. They may schedule follow up appointments with you or discuss future tube options as low-profile tubes can replace PEG tubes 8-12 weeks after your procedures, based on how well your stoma heals.

You’ll want to find a good place to store supplies and to set up the pump and feeding set once you get home.

Until the stoma site is fully healed, do not immerse your stoma site in water. Have showers not baths. Your healthcare professional will advise when you can have a bath or go swimming.

Clean the site during the first two weeks daily using gauze and sterile water, be sure to clean under the retention disc as well. Be sure to keep the tube and stoma site clean and dry at all times. Expect some drainage to occur in the first few days, but also be on the lookout for major skin or stoma changes that your care team has described before you were discharged. Wearing loose fitting clothes are recommended for added comfort.

After a period of two weeks: If the tube feels too tight, contact your care team. They may advise you to loosen the disc, as weight gain occurs. As part of your daily tube and stoma care, you’ll need to rotate the tube daily. You’ll also want to refer to your written directions for feeding instructions. This includes when to feed, what to feed, how much to feed, and pump-setting information if relevant.

Understand what requires urgent (within 24 hours) or emergent (immediate) care and never be afraid to call your care team with questions.

Remember: the first day at home after any big change is going to require some adjustment. But before long, you’ll become more used to the feeding tube and you’ll develop a new routine that’s second nature to you.