What Is a Gastrostomy (Feeding Tube)?

Eating looks simple until it isn't. When someone cannot eat enough — or cannot swallow safely — nutrition still has to get in somehow, and a gastrostomy is one of the most direct answers. It is a feeding tube placed through the abdominal wall straight into the stomach, so liquid feed, fluids and medication can be given without passing through the mouth and throat. The video above, "Gastrostomy tube Placement," covers the placement in about two and a half minutes; here is the same journey, step by step.

Step one: deciding a tube is needed

As the anchor video puts it, a gastrostomy tube is placed when a patient is not able to eat on their own, as a result of neurological or other dysfunction. Swallowing problems after a stroke are a common example, but the underlying reasons vary, and so does the expected length of use — weeks for some people, much longer for others. Short-term feeding usually starts with a thin tube through the nose, while a gastrostomy is generally the option considered when support is likely to be needed for an extended period. That judgement, and the timing, belongs to your treating team.

Step two: placing the tube

There are several types of gastrostomy tube and more than one way in. The best-known route is the endoscopic one — often called a PEG — in which a thin camera is passed into the stomach, as described in our guide to what an endoscopy shows, and the tube is guided through the abdominal wall at the point the camera light identifies. Other patients have the tube placed with imaging guidance or during an operation instead. You will usually be sedated or anaesthetised for the placement itself, and a small dressing covers the site afterwards.

Step three: feeding through it

Once the team confirms the tube is positioned correctly, feeding can begin — typically with water first, then liquid feed, given slowly by syringe, by gravity from a bag, or by a small pump over a set number of hours. Medication can usually be given through the tube in liquid form too. The site's longer "Feeding Tube" video, just over eight minutes, walks through feeding-tube use in more detail if you want to see the equipment handled.

Step four: the daily routine at home

Most of gastrostomy life is unglamorous routine, and that is a good thing. The skin around the tube is cleaned daily and kept dry, the tube is flushed with water before and after feeds to keep it clear, and you will be shown how to check that it still moves and sits as it should. Some tubes are later changed for a low-profile "button" that lies flatter against the skin. Call your team promptly if the tube falls out, leaks persistently, blocks and will not flush, or the surrounding skin becomes increasingly red, swollen or painful — and seek urgent help for severe abdominal pain or feed leaking with distress, rather than waiting for a routine review. A gastrostomy is different from the stomas covered in our guide to what an ileostomy is: those carry waste out, while this tube carries nutrition in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a gastrostomy permanent?

Not necessarily. If swallowing or eating recovers, the tube can be removed and the opening usually closes on its own. Some people need theirs long term. Your team will review the plan with you as things change.

Does having the tube placed hurt?

Placement is done with sedation or anaesthesia, so you should not feel the procedure itself. Some soreness around the site for a few days afterwards is common and is usually managed with simple pain relief your team advises.

Can I still eat or drink by mouth with a gastrostomy?

That depends on why the tube was placed. If swallowing is unsafe, your team may advise nothing by mouth; if the tube is only topping up what you can manage, some oral intake may continue. Always follow your own team's guidance.

What is the difference between a PEG and a gastrostomy?

Gastrostomy is the general term for the opening and tube into the stomach. PEG — percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy — is one common method of placing it, using an endoscope. The tube itself works the same way once it is in.

What happens if the tube comes out?

Contact your care team the same day and do not try to push a tube back in unless you have been trained and told to. The opening can begin to close within hours, so prompt advice matters — your team may ask you to come in straight away.

MedicalVideos.com has published trusted medical videos since 2007. The site was founded by Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, MD, PhD — physician-scientist.

Educational only — this article is general information about gastrostomy feeding tubes, not medical advice and not a diagnosis. If you have a feeding tube or have been told you need one, talk to your treating or nutrition care team, who know your situation.