This is a tube that goes into the stomach through the stomach wall. It enables a person to be given food and drink if they are unable to eat all they need by mouth, by passing food directly into the stomach via the tube. Some people with neuromuscular conditions find that they can only eat very slowly due to the shape of their mouths or weakness affecting their chewing and swallowing muscles. Mealtimes can take a long time and eating can become a chore that takes up too much of their day. It can also lead to arguments between children and their parents.
Many families describe mealtimes as stressful rather than enjoyable.
Some people with neuromuscular conditions have specific problems with swallowing. Food or drink may go down the wrong way so that instead of going down to the stomach, it goes down the wrong tube into the lungs. This is called aspiration. If this happens often, the person is prone to chest infections and finds it hard to put on weight. A g-tube is a simple and very effective way of avoiding these problems as the food can go straight into the stomach.