It is good that you PALS will be monitored at least overnight. Hal had his PEG-tube placed as an outpatient on Dec. 1, 2009 and then was checked into the hospital here in Santa Barbara and stayed overnight for observation. But the reason for the overnight stay was because we requested the overnight stay.
Several months earlier a local PALS, Joe Scarcello, who Hal and I considered a close friend, DIED from complications of the PEG-tube placement. Joe had lost far too much weight prior to his surgery. Although he was still walking, talking, and driving, he was too weak to prepare his own food, and swallowing was a burden. A couple of weeks before the procedure, Joe had moved in with his daughter in Santa Maria, about 90 miles north of Santa Barbara.. He had his procedure done as an outpatient in Santa Maria and was sent home. The next day, he started bleeding and choking. HE dHis daughter brought him back to the hospital, where he died.
Hal had maintained his weight prior to his procedure, although it had become quite a challenge for him to get food down by mouth. After his procedure, Hal stayed at the hospital overnight through late the next day. He had pretty serious soreness from the surgery and was not at first able to tolerate the tube feedings - so the staff at the hospital kept him until he was able to be fed and the soreness was lessening. And even after that, for a couple of weeks Hal was significantly weaker, and was not able to move or talk as well as prior to the surgery. Lessons here: Waiting too long can be a very bad thing. And every assault to the system can be a set back for PALS, even when it is going to make life easier eventually. A couple of good reason NOT to wait too long and also to be aware and monitor your PALS!