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Digestive Disease Interventions
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1807246
Review Article

Gastrostomy Tubes in Trauma Patients

Yuan-Mao Lin
1   Department of Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
,
Johanna L. Chan
2   Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida
,
Ravi Murthy
1   Department of Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
,
Steven Y. Huang 
1   Department of Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Gastrostomy tubes provide essential long-term enteral nutritional support for trauma patients unable to tolerate oral intake or if prohibited due to associated injuries. This review aims to explore the indications and special considerations unique to gastrostomy tube placement and management for patients following trauma. The specific special considerations addressed in this article are timing of gastrostomy tube placement, timing of gastric tube feeding, technique, indications for postpyloric feeding tubes, concomitant corticosteroid use, safety in patients with an open abdomen, overcoming an inability to pass a nasogastric tube, and considerations for postgastrostomy tube management.

Keywords

gastrostomy - trauma - nutrition


Publication History

Received: 06 January 2025

Accepted: 06 March 2025

Article published online:
08 April 2025

© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 

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