Percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy

A percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy is a procedure to make a small opening between the skin of your child's belly and the small intestine. A feeding tube is placed into the small intestine through the opening. This tube is used to help your child get the nutrition, liquid, and medicine that they need.

Feeding tubes are used when a health problem makes it hard for your child to eat and get nutrition. A jejunostomy may be done when a child can't take in food, liquids, or medicines by mouth, and a feeding tube placed in the stomach is not an option.

Your child will get medicine to go to sleep and prevent pain during the procedure.

The doctor will put a thin, lighted tube (scope) into your child's mouth. The scope will have a camera on it. The doctor will send puffs of air through the scope. This inflates the intestine. It helps the doctor see where to place the feeding tube.

The doctor will make a small cut (incision) in your child's belly. The doctor will put the feeding tube into your child's mouth and guide the tube down to your child's small intestine.

The doctor will pull one end of the feeding tube out of your child's belly through the incision. This end of the feeding tube will stay outside your child's body. The other end will stay in the intestine.