My husband's PEG tube was initially sutured but these were removed in a week's time. If the sutures are left in they will become irritated and infected. On subsequent tube replacements no sutures were used. Daily cleansing around the tube with saline and a dry dressing applied was all the care required.

Caregiver to husband Dx. Stage 4 SCC of gingiva with 3 nodes pos. Partial mandiblectomy with bone graft from iliac crest Dec. 2006. IMRT x30, Cisplatin x3. Completed Tx. March 15, 2007. Osteonecrosis & removal of graft & plate Oct. 2007. Recurrence of SCC Dec. 2007. Deceased Jan. 17, 2008.