When are gastrostomy tubes used?
Gastrostomy tubes are placed when patients cannot swallow or utilize the normal oral/esophagus route for food intake. This procedure is most often done for patients suffering from a stroke, an operation on the mouth, throat, or neck, or patients who have an altered state of consciousness and are not awake enough to use the normal swallowing mechanism. Gastrostomy tubes are sometimes placed to suction or aspirate stomach contents following surgery or if a patient is experiencing a bowel obstruction. Gastrostomy tubes allow for decompression of the stomach to prevent vomiting or aspiration pneumonia (regurgitation of stomach contents into the windpipe and lungs). When shouldnt a gastrostomy feeding tube be used? Families and/or patients may choose not to have a gastrostomy tube placed, even though they cannot take food or medication orally. Sometimes patients weigh the risks of not being able to eat properly, complications of the tube placement, etc., and choose to accept the natural cou
