What is gastrostomy?
Gastrostomy is a surgery in which the doctor creates an opening in the abdomen of the patient. This opening extends from the outside of the body into the stomach. The purpose of the opening is to allow the doctor to insert the feed tube directly into the stomach. Gastrostomy is performed in patients who are unable to swallow or take food by mouth.
patients who suffered from stroke and lost control of the esophagus can qualify for gastrostomy. Also patients with head or neck cancer who have difficulty swallowing can benefit from the compound tube. This procedure can also help everyone with a serious disorder or blockage of the esophagus.
If the child could not take sufficient nutrition by mouth, gastrostomy would allow further feeding. The infant should still be encouraged to enjoy the food even after implanting the feed tube. If the patient is still able to eat food normally, the compound tube will not interfere with the digging system of food that enters the stomach through the esophagus.
There are two methods that a surgeon can use to perform gastrostomy. For percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, the surgeon uses an endoscope, a tube with light and camera. The endoscope is led through the mouth and into the stomach. The stomach area is illuminated and the surgeon then inserts the feed tube with a small cut on the outside of the abdomen. For this procedure, the patient should only need a mild sedative.
Open gastrostomy is performed while the patient is under general anesthesia and this procedure does not include the use of the endoscope. The surgeon cuts on the left side of the abdomen and inserts the feed tube. This procedure is usually performed if the patient already has surgery for another condition. Healing may take longer because the cut is large.
As soon as it is in place, the rubber plug or the balloon on the inside of the stomach is used to hold the tube on site. The valve allows food to go into the stomach over the compound tube and prevents the food to escape from the stomach. TThe rubka protrudes about 3 to 5 inches (7.6 to 12.7 cm) from the abdomen and connects to the bag of liquid food.
After gastrostomy completion, the patient will be intravenous for the first 24 hours. Then the patient will gradually feed with clear liquids through the compound tube, followed by liquid food. The patient will have to understand how to maintain the feed tube at home by rinse and cleaning.