The act of swallowing and eating, which is the most natural reflex of humanity, can be prevented from time to time due to disruptions. Problems of inability to swallow, which are often seen in the medical world, develop after certain surgeries and diseases such as Alzheimer's. Nutrition, which allows you to keep the human body and organs vigorous, is very important during these periods. Since the healing process of a person who cannot eat well will not go in a positive direction, the patient must be fed, except for intravenous fluid nutrition. Therefore, Dr. Meral Sözen and all other doctors apply Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy for their patients when necessary. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is performed by Dr. Meral Sözen will be able to find the answers to many questions such as what it means to wear PEG, why PEG is worn, in which cases PEG is not worn, in this content and you will be able to solve the question marks in your mind about PEG fitting.
What is a Stomach Tube?
In cases where the swallowing reflex is impaired for various reasons, patients can be fed easily with PEG ( Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy), which is an alternative way of feeding applied to patients so that nutrition is not interrupted. PEG insertion is applied as a remedy for the inability to swallow reflex, which develops for many reasons, from neurological diseases to stricture in the esophagus.
If the swallowing reflex is expected to improve in the short term, a flexible tube is passed from the nose to the stomach and feeding can be continued for up to 4 weeks. However, PEG insertion is recommended by all doctors in the first place in terms of patient comfort, as irritation may develop in the nose after 4 weeks.
Why Is PEG Opening Necessary?
Providing nutritional support to patients who are not fed orally is undoubtedly a very important phenomenon. PEG opening will be the most correct option, as the delivery of nutrients to the gastrointestinal system will be much better than other nutrition methods. In the gastrointestinal nutrition method that keeps the immune system active, risks such as infection are minimized. PEG is necessary because intravenous nutrition, which will last even longer than 4 to 6 weeks, will cause discomfort to the patient. patients whose nutrition cannot improve after 1 month or who cannot improve at all should definitely be fitted with a PEG.
Who Does PEG Open To?
If it is not possible to feed the patient by normal means in a long period of time, PEG application can be performed. The best answer to the question of who should PEG be opened to will be the diseases and patient classifications in the list below.
- Diseases of the brain and nervous system
- Loss of consciousness after stroke and stroke
- Head injuries
- The nerves responsible for swallowing function are destroyed and the swallowing reflex disappears
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Dementia
- Myasthenia gravis
Apart from many diseases such as Alzheimer's, there may also be patients and diseases that need to wear a PEG.
As is known, the PEG procedure is performed accompanied by endoscopy. If the patient's vital signs are normal, PEG insertion can be performed together with the anesthetist. Dr. Ankara PEG, who often mentions his name about wearing. Meral Sözen performs PEG insertion procedure by relaxing her patients with anesthesia. The patient's esophagus and stomach wall are examined by endoscopy and evaluated for nutrition. If there are no irregularities that would interfere with the PEG process, a path is created between the anterior abdominal wall and the stomach and an apparatus is attached. Decapitation is performed. after 1 day, PEG is started to be used and nutritionists & doctors evaluate the patient.
There are many rules for the PEG team that need to be considered in patients undergoing surgery in the abdominal region. For example, in overweight patients, the PEG team may be difficult due to adipose tissue, so the PEG team may be canceled. In the same way, if there is an adhesion of organs such as the large intestine under the scar left by the operation, PEG opening is not applied because it may damage the organs.
