Home Tube Feeding
Home Tube Feeding
If you are considering tube feeding for your child, you have likely already been down a long and, at times, exasperating road to make sure your child can grow and thrive. Turning to tube feeding is not always an easy choice, but fully understanding how it works will help you make the best decision you can.
When Is Tube Feeding a Solution?
Your doctor may recommend tube feeding when your child cannot or will not be able to get the nutrients he or she needs by eating orally.
Sometimes it is in response to a medical condition that impacts a child's nutritional needs, and other times it is a solution when a child has difficulty swallowing, known as dysphagia.
Turning to tube feeding is a big step but in the right direction. It can be easily integrated into daily life and, in many cases, is not permanent though some people will rely on tube feeding for a lifetime. It can be a solution to help children get back on track. When they gain and maintain enough weight, many children are able to transition back to eating orally. Some children are even able to continue to eat some solid foods while being tube fed.
What Does Tube Feeding Do?
Tube feeding nourishes children who have difficulty eating by bypassing the mouth and delivering nutrients from a special formula directly to where it's best absorbed either the stomach or the small intestine. It's also called enteral nutrition.
What Options Does My Child Have?
Your child's condition and the duration of time he or she will rely on enteral nutrition will determine which solution your doctor recommends.
There are two types of tube placements:
Nasogastric (NG) tubes are placed through the nose and then down the esophagus to the stomach or small intestine.
- Usually a short-term solution because it is more easily removed. Sometimes children will use NG tubes while the healthcare team weighs the option of enteral nutrition as a long-term solution.
- Learn more about NG tubes, tube site care and maintenance.
Percutaneous (PEG and PEJ) tubes are placed through the skin, via a hole called a stoma, directly into the stomach or small intestine
- Usually a longer-term solution because it is more comfortable and convenient than nasal tubes.
- Can be replaced with a gastric button when the stomach or intestine has had time to heal.
- Buttons are less intrusive because feeding tubes can be removed when not in use and they require little special care.
Tubes are named for where they deliver nutrients:
- Gastrostomy tubes
deliver nutrients to the stomach. - Duodenostomy tubes
deliver nutrients to the top of the small intestine. - Jejunostomy tubes
deliver nutrients to the second part of the small intestine.
How Will My Child's Percutaneous Tube Be Placed?
How your doctor decides to place your child's percutaneous tube depends on your child's individual anatomy and needs. Talking to your pediatrician will help both of you find the best solution, as different options can lead to different outcomes:
- A Stamm gastrostomy is a surgical option that requires a longer hospital stay, but less healing time is needed before a gastrostomy button can be placed.
- The endoscopic method, laparoscopic method and radiological method are less invasive, but need more healing time before a button can be placed.
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