What is gastrostomy?
A. A gastrostomy is performed to insert a tube directly into the stomach or small intestine of a person who cannot take food or medicine by mouth. Gastrostomy can be done surgically, or through an interventional radiology (IR) technique called “percutaneous gastrostomy,” which requires only a tiny incision in the skin. Percutaneous gastrostomy can be performed safely in adults or children. Generally, this is an outpatient procedure or may involve a short hospital stay.
