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Tube Feeding

This is information about sugically placed feeding tubes.

Tube feeding (enteral feeding) is a way of giving liquid nutrition (often formula) directly into the stomach or small bowel. Tube feeding can be used for children or youth who:
  • cannot take food by mouth
  • have not learned to take food by mouth (oral aversion)
  • need extra nutrition
  • have problems swallowing
There are many different types of feeding tubes and approaches to enteral feeding. The procedure and the type of feeding tube chosen for your child will depend on their healthcare needs. Tubes placed directly in the stomach are called gastrostomy tubes (GT). Tubes are sometimes placed in the small bowel (jejunum) when feeds are not tolerated via the stomach. These tubes are called jejunostomy tubes (JT).
 
These are the different surgical procedures used to place feeding tubes at BC Children's Hospital:

  • percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG)
  • open gastrostomy
  • laparoscopic gastrostomy
  • jejunostomy
    • gastrojejunal feeding tube (transgastric feeding tube)
    • open jejunostomy
    • Roux-en-Y jejunostomy
    • Braun jejunostomy