The PEG tube

September 6, 2011
We sent Mr. Keean down for surgery the morning of September 6 to have his PEG tube placed.  This is the tube I was talking about earlier that would go directly into his stomach in stead of using the tube that went up his nose and down his throat.  This was a more permanent option and I felt that it was in Keean's best interest to have it.  PEG stands for
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and the actual wikpedia definition is as follows (if you aren't interested you can skip the bold and continue reading the story):

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is an endoscopic medical procedure in which a tube (PEG tube) is passed into a patient's stomach through the abdominal wall, most commonly to provide a means of feeding when oral intake is not adequate (for example, because of dysphagia or sedation). This provides enteral nutrition (making use of the natural digestion process of the gastrointestinal tract) despite bypassing the mouth; enteral nutrition is generally preferable to parenteral nutrition (which is only used when the GI tract must be avoided). The PEG procedure is an alternative to open surgical gastrostomy insertion, and does not require a general anesthetic; mild sedation is typically used. PEG tubes may also be extended into the small intestine by passing a jejunal extension tube (PEG-J tube) through the PEG tube and into the jejunum via the pylorus.[1]

PEG administration of enteral feeds is the most commonly used method of nutritional support for patients in the community. Many stroke patients, for example, are at risk of aspiration pneumonia due to poor control over the swallowing muscles; some will benefit from a PEG performed to maintain nutrition. PEGs may also be inserted to decompress the stomach in cases of gastric volvulus.[2]

Well surgery went quick and really well.  Keean tolerated the whole process like the rock star he is and only needed morphine at 5:30pm and once in the middle of the night, which isn't always typical of kids who get these tubes placed.  It was so nice to see Keean's whole face again versus the NJ tube that was taped to his face.  The only thing he wasn't excited about was being snuggled after the surgery, which I don't blame him.  I wouldn't want to snuggle after a surgery like that either.  This was an exciting surgery for us because we knew Keean needed it.  We also knew that it would help him stop puking so much without the other tube tickling his throat all the time.  We were also glad that we were already in the hospital so we were settled and had our nice big room to sit back and learn all about Keean's new tube.  We could have the doctors and nurses support throughout the learning process and that made me feel so much more comfortable.  The PEG tube is actually what they put in first and has to be in for 6 weeks before they put in a tube called the Mic-Key button (which I'll talk more about after I get to that part of our journey).  Below is a picture of Keean right after his PEG placement.  The yellow tube is taped down so the tube doesn't move around.  Because they already had Keean under for the PEG placement, they decided to take more biopsies of his intestines to run more in depth tests.  And this, my friends, is when things got a little interesting........