What is the purpose of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube?

A percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube serves the specific purpose of providing nutritional support by allowing direct access to the stomach for feeding. This device is inserted through the skin and into the stomach with the aid of an endoscope, making it a minimally invasive procedure. The tube is especially beneficial for patients who cannot ingest food normally due to various medical conditions, enabling them to receive adequate nutrition without the need for oral intake.

In addition to its primary function of delivering nutrition, a PEG tube can also facilitate the administration of medications directly into the stomach, but its main purpose remains feeding. Other options present different functionalities that do not align with the primary use of a PEG tube, reinforcing why this particular choice is the most accurate.