Tube feeding with a PEG or RIG

The patients we treat have difficulty eating and drinking normally. We use tubes called PEG or RIG to pass liquid feed through the skin and directly into their stomach.

Our services

As part of our service, we assess whether patients are suitable for tube feeding. We provide safe, comfortable feeding for liquid nutrition, water and medication, and:

assess patients’ nutritional needs
provide liquid feed for patients
train patients and carers to use the tubes and feeds
follow-up support for stoma care, nutritional assessment, and tube maintenance and renewal
follow-up care and training in locations closer to patients’ homes
are involved in care for children who transfer to adult services.

Our service includes a clinic led by nurses to co-ordinate all aspects of care for patients.

We also provide a helpline number and care for patients in an emergency.

Our team

Dr Chris Dipper, Dr Chris Mountford and Dr Nick Thompson, Dr Phil Haslam (radiologist)

Sister Lindsay McGowan

Conditions

The main conditions where patients might need a PEG or RIG tube for feeding include:

Stroke
Head and neck cancers
Cerebral palsy
Head injury
Motor Neurone Disease

PEG and RIG

We use two types of feed tube for patients. The type of tube we use depends on the individual patients’ needs, and includes:

PEG tubes (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy)

A feeding tube inserted into the stomach by using an endoscope (camera) to identify the position, and to secure the tube in place.

RIG tubes (Radiologically Inserted Gastrostomy)

A feeding tube inserted using x-rays to identify the position of the stomach, and insert a tube through the stomach wall. These are inserted in the radiology department.