Cathy,

I am a little confused... IV nutrition/TPN feeding is through a surgically placed central line (or PICC line) into the blood stream (my son has been getting most of his nutrition that way since he was an infant) and a feeding tube goes through the abdominal skin to the stomach and uses a formula. You would NEVER want to put formula in the central line, nor TPN into the stomach...

Gail,

the gastrostomy buttons I have the most experience with are the AMT mini button and the Mic-Key button, both use a water filled balloon to hold it in place. There is also the BARD button but it requires a physician to place it and change it, and it causes some discomfort. It can however be left in for a year or more. I know there are other brands out there, I am just not as familiar with them.

Heidi (daughter in law to the bravest woman I know... oral cancer 6 yrs ago, esophageal 3 yrs ago, skin earlier this year and rediagnosed with oral this week)