Surgical feeding tube insertion, the literature review and the actual procedure

Abstract

Nutritional support through feeding tubes for patients who are unable to take oral feed has many advantages over parenteral nutrition. The feeding tubes can also be used for decompression in patients with bowel obstruction or gastroparesis and those requiring peri-operative nutritional support when oral intake is contraindicated or limited. Therefore, insertion of the feeding tube is currently one of the most commonly performed procedures. With the advances in intervention, most of the feeding tubes are inserted under endoscopic or fluoroscopic guidance. However, in some cases only the insertion of a surgical feeding tube is possible. This paper introduces the indications for inserting a surgical feeding tube formation. It also describes the surgical management of dislodgement and clogging of the tube, and enterocutaneous fistula among the possible complications.