What is PEG Tube Home Guide

A PEG tube is used to put food and fluids into the stomach. Before you leave the hospital, make sure that you know:

• How to care for your PEG tube.
• How to care for the opening (stoma) in your belly.
• How to give yourself a feeding.
• How to give yourself medicines.
• When to call your doctor for help.

Supplies needed:

• Soapy water
• Clean, plain water
• Clean washcloth
• Gauze pad
• Syringe

How to care for a PEG tube

Check your PEG tube every day. Make sure:

• It is not too tight.
• It is in the correct place. There is a mark on the tube that shows when the tube is in the correct place. Adjust the tube if you need to.

Cleaning your stoma

Clean your stoma every day. Follow these steps:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
2. Check your stoma. Let your doctor know if there is:
   1. Redness.
   1. Leaking.
   1. Skin irritation.
3. Wash the stoma gently with warm, soapy water.
4. Rinse the stoma with plain water.
5. Pat the stoma area dry.
6. You may place a gauze pad around the opening of your stoma.

Giving a feeding

Your doctor will tell you:

• How much nutrition and fluid you will need for each feeding.
• How often to have a feeding.
• Whether you should take medicine in the tube by itself or with a feeding.

To give yourself a feeding, follow these steps:

1. Lay out all of the things that you will need.
2. Make sure that the nutritional formula is at room temperature.
3. Wash your hands with soap and water.
4. Sit up or stand up straight. You will need to stay sitting up or standing up while you give yourself a feeding.
5. Make sure the syringe plunger is pushed in. Place the tip of the syringe in clean water, and slowly pull the plunger to bring (draw up) the water into the syringe.
6. Remove the clamp and the cap from the PEG tube.
7. Push the water out of the syringe to clean (flush) the tube.
8. If the tube is clear, draw up the formula into the syringe. Make sure to use the right amount for each feeding. Add water if you need to.
9. Slowly push the formula from the syringe through the tube.
10. After the feeding, flush the tube with water.
11. Put the clamp and the cap on the tube.
12. Stay sitting up or standing up straight for at least 30 minutes.

Giving medicine

To give yourself medicine, follow these steps:

1. Lay out all of the things that you will need.
2. If your medicine is in tablet form, crush it and dissolve it in water.
3. Wash your hands with soap and water.
4. Sit up or stand up straight. You will need to stay sitting up or standing up while you give yourself medicine.
5. Make sure the syringe plunger is pushed in. Place the tip of the syringe in clean water, and slowly pull the plunger to bring (draw up) the water into the syringe.
6. Remove the clamp and the cap from the PEG tube.
7. Push the water out of the syringe to clean (flush) the tube.
8. If the tube is clear, draw up the medicine into the syringe.
9. Slowly push the medicine from the syringe through the tube.
10. Flush the tube with water.
11. Put the clamp and the cap on the tube.
12. Stay sitting up or standing up straight for at least 30 minutes.

Do not take sustained release (SR) medicines through your tube. If you are not sure if your medicine is a SR medicine, ask your doctor.

Contact a doctor if:

• The area around your stoma is sore, irritated, or red.
• You have belly pain or bloating while you are feeding, or after you feed.
• You feel sick to your stomach (nausea) for a long time.
• You cannot poop (constipated) or you have watery poop (diarrhea) for a long time.
• You have a fever.
• You have problems with your PEG tube.

Get help right away if:

• Your tube is blocked.
• Your tube falls out.
• You have pain around your tube.
• You are bleeding from your tube.
• Your tube is leaking.
• You choke or you have trouble breathing while you are feeding or after you feed.

Summary

• A PEG tube is used to put food and fluids into the stomach.
• Before you leave the hospital, you will be taught how to use and care for your PEG tube.
• Your doctor will give you instructions on how to give yourself feedings and medicines.
• Contact your doctor if you have fever or soreness, redness, or irritation around your stoma.
• Get help right away if your tube leaks, is blocked, or falls out. Also, get help right away if you have pain or bleeding around your stoma.