[Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy].

Tube feeding is commonly used in providing enteral nutrition to the patient with dysphagia. The percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is an alternative to the nasogastric tube (NG) and the surgical gastrostomy. The advantages of PEG are short procedure time, the avoidance of using an operating theatre and general anaesthesia and reduced cost. The main indication for PEG is dysphagia due to neurological disease and cancer in the pharynx and oesophagus. A gastrostomy is cosmetically more acceptable than NG, self extubation is more difficult for the confused patient, tube diameter is larger and therefore the tube is not so easily blocked. The patient with a gastrostomy tube is more mobile and is able to start oral nutrition at the same time as receiving enteral nutrition through the gastrostomy tube.