Gastrostomy tubes: Fundamentals, periprocedural considerations, and best practices

World J Gastrointest Surg. 2022 Apr 27;14(4):286-303. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v14.i4.286.

Abstract

Gastrostomy tube placement is a procedure that achieves enteral access for nutrition, decompression, and medication administration. Preprocedural evaluation and selection of patients is necessary to provide optimal benefit and reduce the risk of adverse events (AEs). Appropriate indications, contraindications, ethical considerations, and comorbidities of patients referred for gastrostomy placement should be weighed and balanced. Additionally, endoscopist should consider either a transoral or transabdominal approach is appropriate, and radiologic or surgical gastrostomy tube placement is needed. However, medical history, physical examination, and imaging prior to the procedure should be considered to tailor the appropriate approach and reduce the risk of AEs.

Keywords: Decompression; Endoscopy; Enteral nutrition; Enterostomy; Gastropexy; Gastrostomy.

Publication types

  • Review