The different types of feedig tubes.

Nasogastric Feeding Tube:  (NG)  This is a feeding tube that is inserted into the nose, down the back of the throat (the nose and mouth/throat are connected), down the esophagus (the body's tube to the stomach) and into the stomach. 

This tube can be inserted by the medical team or by caretakers at home when a feeding needs to be given.  For those children on continual pump feeds the tube will remain in place and taped onto the side of the cheek and behind the ear.  If it is only needed a few times a day to place medicine or extra feedings, it can be inserted and removed at will.  However, it can be very traumatic for babies and parents who must insert a tube through their child's nose and into the stomach many times during the day.  It may be beneficial in those instances to keep the NG tube in place always. A parent or caregiver must be instructed and watched by a medical professional to learn how to insert an NG tube.  Also, you must be very careful it does not go down the trachea (wind pipe) to the lungs.  Most times the nurses will insert it the first few times and an X-ray is taken to confirm placement.  This is another reason it is a good idea to try to keep the NG tube always in place.

This is a a good tube for short term feedings problems.  Anything much longer than two months I would say needs a g-tube, but I'm no doctor.  I just know how difficult it is to keep an NG tube in place.  I know how frustrating it can be to create normal oral feeding.  Many patients feel like it is in their way.  There is also a great danger the pump can migrate to the lung area, especially in babies who are home on NG tube.  It was difficult for me to succumb to the idea of a permanent G-Tube, but it was so much better than an NG tube in my opinion. 

Here's some good links to help you understand Nasogastric Feeding Tubes:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000182.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000182.htm


Oralgastric Feeding Tube:  (OG) It is good to understand that all feeding tubes are named after first where is starts in the body and second where it ends.  So Oralgastric tube starts in the mouth (oral) and ends in the stomach (gastric).  Nasogastric starts in the nose (naso) and ends in the stomach (gastric).  This makes sense I hope.

The OG tube is good if the nasal passages are malformed or if the tube is causing skin irritation in the nasal passages.  An NG tube can cause tissue or skin breakdown and lead to infection. In this instance the OG tube would be a good alternative until other means of feeding are figured out.  The OG tube is not a good longer term solution and can be placed right before feedings and taken out right after.   As always, you must be instructed by a medical professional first to be able to place an OG tube at home without direct medical assistance.


Gastrostomy Tube:  (G-tube)   This is a tube that goes directly in to the stomach from a surgically placed stoma (hole) through the abdomen and into the stomach.  It takes a few months for the stoma to heal but the outer sides of the stoma will heal into well sealed, continuous  piece of tissue.  Nothing can leak into other parts of the body. 

There are various types of G-tubes.  Most in America will be familiar with the Mickey button.  It is a small cap-like structure with a small tube and a balloon at the end to keep the Mickey in place.  Other tubes can have tubing that sticks out of the body.  I don't like these tubes much because they are not conducive for active babies or children, you are always worried the tubing will get caught on a crawling leg or a toy.  However, it is usually what most start out with when the G-tube is first placed.  This tube, I have found, tends to migrate down and can block the lower stomach sphincter (opening). 

The G-tube is very useful for long term feeding needs.  It is easy to care for and use.  It is constantly in place so if the child or patient has any long term feeding problems. or is not able to eat, this is the perfect option.  You can still do gravity feeds but also have better access to pump feeds. 

http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/surgery/g_tube.html

http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/g/g-tube-care/

Gastrojejunal Feeding Tubes (GJ)  This tube in inserted into the gastrostomy stoma, but the long tube in advanced down into the first part of the small intestine called the Jejunum.  Hence the name GJ; Gastro for stomach and jejunal for the jejunum.  This tube has to be placed by a radiologist to be able to place the tube in the correct location in the small intestine. 

This tube is used if the child vomits even tube feedings frequently.  It eliminates the food going into the stomach so there is much less chance the child will vomit feedings. However, when my son had his tube he could still vomit and bile could more easily reflux into his stomach and esophagus.  He also had the very rare occurrence of the tube blocking his pancreatic duct and he got pacreatitis. 
These are the most common of the feeding tubes.  Each come with pros an cons and need to be researched and talked about with you GI doctor to determine which is best for your child.