Tube feeding is used when a person can’t eat or drink enough to stay alive, or when it isn’t safe for the person to eat or drink food or water. Some people stay alive for days, months, or even years by getting tube feed through their noses. But, even if life support is used, people can still die even if they are.
A feeding tube may be necessary if you have difficulty swallowing or are unable to consume enough food or liquids via your mouth. During your recovery from an illness, you may be exposed to one via your nose or mouth.
For those who are unable to eat due to long-term or serious conditions, such as dementia or terminal cancer, a procedure known as a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy may be an option (PEG). To administer a liquid meal mixture or a formula, your surgeon will make a small incision in the skin of your stomach and introduce a tube directly into your stomach.
Surgeons perform PEG tube insertion.
Before your surgery, your doctor will most likely instruct you to refrain from eating or drinking for at least eight hours. You’ll be asked to remove your eyeglasses and dentures once you arrive at the hospital. Make sure that you are ready physically and emotionally for the procedure,
Through a little tube, you’ll be given a combination of painkillers, sedatives, and antibiotics. To make the procedure as painless as possible, your doctor will also give you an injection of an anesthetic (a painkiller). It’s possible that you won’t be awake for the entire procedure.
An endoscope is threaded through your mouth and stomach by your doctor during the surgery. Using an endoscope with a camera, they can peer into the stomach to determine the optimum place to insert the PEG tube. To insert it, a tiny cut is made in the abdominal wall. Doral Health Medical Doctors are experts in the field.
The feeding tube will be taped to your abdomen by your physician. For the first several days, there may be some drainage surrounding it. Dressings will be changed as needed with sterile gauze that has been sterilized. Your wound will need to be cleaned regularly with soap and water once the dressing has been removed. Doral Health Homecare services of nurses and caregivers can help you with this assistance.
For a few days after the tube is inserted, your abdomen may feel sore in the area. As if a muscle has been strained. On the first day following surgery, your doctor will give you pain medication.
In order to utilize and care for the feeding tube, a dietician will instruct you. Mix your own or buy a ready-made recipe. Most people utilize a pump or a gravity system to drip the formula into their stomachs on a regular basis.
Feeding tubes are usually updated every several months. It could possibly last for a few years.
When is the best time to go to the doctor?
- If the tube falls out or is dislodged, notify your doctor immediately.
- The tube will not allow food to pass through.
- You will see leaks surrounding the tube.
At Doral Health and Wellness, the medical professionals are top in their field. The gastroenterologist, medical experts, home health care caregivers, and nurses will help you to recover faster. This is to ensure the protection and sanitary care of post operations procedures. Our team of very skilled and passionate healthcare professionals, as well as our caring support staff, work hard to keep that promise to our patients. We plan the daily lives of our patients for home health services very carefully to make sure they have the best time possible. HouseCalls Home Care is a full-service New York State-licensed Home Care agency that provides a wide range of home health services. Our offices are located at 1950 Fulton Street, New York, 11233. Kindly contact us by email at info@housecallshc.org or call us on +1-718-922-9200. You can log onto https://housecallshc.org/ for more information.
