Patient/Family Education for PEG Tube or Feeding Tube
The plan for your tube feeding:
Number of Cans each Day
At these times of day
Amount of water
For questions or problems, call ____________________.
Medical Slang
PEG
Feeding Tube
Formula
Terminology:
Medical Term
What?
Percutaneous Endoscopic
Tube that goes into your stomach from the
Gastrostomy
stomach wall
Gastrointestinal Tube
Tube that goes through your nose or mouth
and down your throat to your stomach
Enteral Feeding
Liquid that contains all the food groups
plus vitamins to provide a balanced diet.
Problems with Your Tube
What?
Sluggish tube or slow running
tube
Blocked Feeding Tube
Diarrhea or Constipation
Nausea or vomiting
Bloating, swelling, or upset
stomach
Why?
Medicines can clog up a tube. Use 1 –2 ounces (30 – 60 mL)
of warm water to flush tube.
Always flush with water before and after giving any formula
or medicines. Sometimes you may unclog by gently pulling
back on syringe. If you are unable to clear tube call home
health nurse or your doctor.
This can occur because of the medicines or the feeding. You
need both of them. If you have more that 8 loose stools in one
day or no stool for 4 days call your doctor.
Do not put anything in the tube and call your doctor.
Call your doctor.
Administration of Medicines
 Do not mix medicines with tube feeding formulas. Tube must be flushed of all
formula prior to giving medicines. Be sure medicines are compatible with tube
feeding.
 Prepare medicines for administration into feeding tube. Obtain medicines in liquid
form if possible. Crush tablets into a fine powder and dissolve in 30mL warm water.
Do not crush time released or enteric coated medicines. Example: Ecotrin
 Sit up in chair or bed to receive medicines.
 Flush gastric tube with 20 ml of warm water prior to medicines.
 Flush gastric tube with 20 ml of warm water after medicines.
October 2010
Directions for Tube Feeding
Why?
Just like you were going to prepare dinner
Never put hot or cold liquids in tube. Think about when you
are eating HOT soup, or drink a COLD shake fast.
Just like you would wipe the top of soda can that has been
sitting outside for 6 months prior to placing your mouth on it.
4. Sit in chair or bed to get
You do not eat when you lie flat. Sitting up after feeding
feeding & for 1 hour after.
prevents it from backing up into lungs causing pneumonia or
other problems.
*Steps 5 & 6 are optional for residual checks (if ordered by your doctor).
5. Hook syringe to tube and
This checks to see if the stomach is empty.
pull back.
6. Put the gastric contents
This fluid has important electrolytes and digestive juices.
back in stomach.
*If there is more than 200 mL in stomach, discard stomach
contents, hold feeding, and call your doctor.
7. Disconnect syringe and close
This prepares the syringe for the tube feeding.
tube. Remove syringe plunger
and attach syringe to tube.
8. Hold tube and syringe
straight up.
Instructions
1. Wash hands
2. Serve formula at room
temperature
3. Wipe or rinse top of can
9. Pour 1 – 2 ounces (30 – 60mL)
of warm water into syringe
attached to tube & allow to flow
by gravity.
10. Pour feeding into syringe
attached to tube & allow
to flow by gravity.
11. Pour 1 – 2 ounces (30 – 60mL)
of warm water into syringe
attached to tube after giving
feeding.
12. Close the tube.
13. Daily care of tube
 Observe length of tube by
checking the mark as it
exits nose or belly.
 Clean tube site with
soap and water using clean
cloth and towel.
 Check the tube site for redness,
swelling, unusual drainage or
odor.
October 2010
This makes sure that the tube will work well. Check with your
doctor about how much water you need. Some people need
more or less than others based on the disease process.
This will prevent the feeding from running in too fast. Do not
push with the syringe or force the feeding. If you must push
with the syringe, push gently. If you meet resistance, stop and
call Home Health Nurse or your doctor.
This rinses the feeding from the tube.
 If the tube appears to get shorter or longer call your Home
Health Nurse or doctor as soon as possible. Do not put
anything in tube until it is checked
 The site should be treated like any sore and not allowed to
get dirty
 Call your Home Health Nurse or doctor if you see anything
unusual.