[lsearl]

Could someone tell me the difference if there is any? Any different care of either? Mostly thinking of patients who have them at home. Thanks in advance for your help.

[bethin]

Bump.........I have the same question.

[suzanne4]

PEG stands for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube. Most are now placed in either the GI lab, or in interventional radiology. The procedure starts off with an EGD, where they look at the stomach from inside, then shine a light thru, if the light is visualized, then a small stab wound is made, and the catheter can be placed that way. This is just an abbreviated version of how it is done, steps were left off.

The regular G-tube, or gastrostomy tube is normally placed in the OR and requires a surigal procedure. It is placed in the OR when it is done in conjunction with another surgery, at least in most cases.

Care of both of the tubes is essentially the same. The most important fact is that if the tube comes out, do not wait until the next day to do something about it, make sure that it is either replaced as soon as possible, or if the patient is at home, at least insert a red Robinson catheter or even a foley catheter into the hole as soon as you can. If the G-tube procedure is fairly new, that hole will close up rather quickly and you may need to send the patient for another procedure if you wait until the next day.

Think back to when you had your ears pierced, if you ever did. You always made sure that you had something in there in the begining, or the hole would colse up rather quickly.

Hope that this helps.

[AmericanChai]

Just to add to this, a PEG tube usually has a mushroom shaped device on the end that holds it in the stomach and makes it very difficult to fall out. Most doctors prefer this style to allow for proper healing. Some doctors prefer to place a long PEG tube and some are now starting to place a PEG button, with the same mushroom shape but the extension tube can be removed. The button is more discrete and you don't have to worry about the long tubing when it's not in use. The tubing on the PEG button does not lock into place so if the patient pulls on it, it will easily come right off. It might cause a mess but it protects the stoma site while it's healing. The most common type of PEG button is the Bard button made by AMT. You can do a search on it to see pics.

After a couple of months the PEG tube or button is often removed and replaced with a balloon type button. The PEG tube/button must be pulled out by force and it's painful and scary but it only lasts a few seconds. Then the balloon type button is inserted. Intead of a mushroom, it has a balloon filled with water that can be easily removed and changed at home. The most common brand is Mic-key button. Another one is the AMT Mini Button. There are a few others but these are the most commonly used. The extension tube twists and locks into place to prevent messes during feedings. Very convenient!

The general term is G-tube or G-button and that can include PEG tubes and buttons. The "PEG" term is to specify that it was placed during a PEG procedure.

Hope that helps.

Darshani (not a nurse yet but mama to a gtube kid)

[josville]

though both terms are often used interchangeably, g-tube implies tube placed in the stomach only while peg tube may be tube placed in the stomach, duodenum, and jejunum.