Surgical insertion of a feeding tube is commonly referred to as what procedure?

• A. PEG
• B. Nasoenteric tube
• C. Gastric tube
• D. Jejunostomy

Answer: (A)

Placing a feeding tube into the stomach through the abdominal wall under endoscopic guidance is called a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, or PEG. This is the standard, commonly used method for long-term enteral feeding because it is minimally invasive compared to open surgical gastrostomy and provides reliable access to the stomach. The term gastric tube is vague and can refer to any tube entering the stomach, not the specific percutaneous endoscopic technique. A nasoenteric tube goes through the nose into the GI tract and is usually for short-term use, while a jejunostomy places the tube directly into the jejunum. Thus, PEG is the best answer because it precisely names the procedure used for surgical insertion of a feeding tube into the stomach via a percutaneous, endoscopic approach.