A gastrostomy is a direct opening from your abdominal wall into your stomach through which you can be fed. This procedure is performed when you cannot swallow, either because you have had a stroke, or you have developed another problem that makes it hard for you to swallow. Most of the time gastrostomy is a temporary measure, but sometimes it is permanent.
The procedure is performed using conscious sedation. Air is placed into the stomach so that it can be easily accessed percutaneously (through the skin) and better visualized under fluoroscopy. In order to achieve this, we will place a small catheter through the nose and into the stomach by passing it down the esophagus. Once the stomach is “inflated”, access is gained with a needle and a guide wire. This access is converted into a feeding tube. Exchanging a gastrostomy tube is easily done using a guide wire. A tube may need to be exchanged if it becomes clogged or if it breaks.
Percutaneous Gastrostomy Tube Placement/Changes
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