What To Expect From A Feeding Tube Insertion Procedure

A healthy individual places food into their mouth, which they then chew and swallow. The food moves into the stomach from the esophagus, where it is digested and broken down before entering the small intestine for nutrient absorption. When there is a structural or functional issue with any of the muscles, nerves, organs, or tissues involved in the movement of food to the stomach that keeps an individual from eating, they will need to be fed through an alternative method. A feeding tube insertion procedure, which is also called a gastrostomy, is a surgery where a feeding tube is installed in the patient's stomach through an abdominal incision. Feeding tube insertion procedures are required for patients with conditions that make it extremely difficult for them to eat normally.