Website Last Updated on March 12, 2026
Managing a PALS at home often means taking on procedures that, in a hospital setting, would be performed by a nurse or technician. Over time, with proper training and careful practice, these become manageable parts of the routine. This page covers three such procedures that we carry out at home for our father — PEG tube replacement, tracheostomy tube replacement, and urine catheter replacement.
We want to be clear: none of these should be attempted without prior training and guidance from your medical team. What we share here is our experience — to familiarise, to reassure, and to complement what your doctors teach you. It is not a substitute for hands-on training.
A PEG tube (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy tube) is a feeding tube inserted directly into the stomach through the abdominal wall. For PALS who can no longer swallow safely or adequately, it becomes the primary route for nutrition, hydration, and medication.
Like all medical devices in regular use, the PEG tube needs to be replaced periodically — and with the right preparation, this can be done safely at home.
(Video recorded on July 7th, 2022 — showing our father's PEG tube replacement in detail.)
PEG tubes should be replaced every 6 to 8 months under normal circumstances, or earlier if:
The balloon deflates spontaneously and repeatedly
The tube becomes cracked, blocked, or difficult to flush
There are signs of infection or granulation tissue at the stoma site
The tube is accidentally pulled out
A tracheostomy tube is a curved tube inserted into a surgically created opening (stoma) in the front of the neck, directly into the trachea (windpipe). For a PALS on invasive ventilation, this tube is their airway — it connects them to the ventilator and allows breathing, suctioning, and nebulization. Keeping it clean, patent, and properly positioned is one of the most critical responsibilities of a home caregiver.
Video Coming Soon.....
A urinary catheter (Foley catheter) is a soft tube inserted through the urethra into the bladder to drain urine continuously. In PALS who have lost bladder control or the ability to use a toilet or bedpan independently, a Foley catheter becomes an important part of maintaining hygiene, comfort, and skin integrity.
Video Coming Soon.....