Can I have a PEG tube removed?

In certain situations, a patient’s attitude toward PEG treatment may change, and consent to PEG feeding may be withdrawn.

As a result, the feeding tube can also be removed. During a follow-up gastroscopy, the internal component of the PEG system (the “retention plate” on the inside of the stomach) is removed. Simply pulling out the tube system is not recommended, as this would leave the retention plate (which is attached to the stomach wall) in place within the gastrointestinal tract. Without targeted removal of the retention plate via gastroscopy, the plate will be excreted naturally along with food residues and stool. Since this elimination cannot be guaranteed and complications (including intestinal obstruction) may arise in rare cases, the controlled removal of a PEG tube during a gastroscopy is recommended.

Overall, the removal of a PEG tube should be carefully considered and weighed. Alternatively, PEG feeding can be discontinued, even though the PEG tube itself remains in place. In this situation, the tube is no longer used for feeding or is used only for fluids or the administration of medications. In this way, feeding via the PEG tube is discontinued, but the option to administer medications—including palliative care medications—remains available.