What does gastrostomy mean?
Gastrostomy is a medical and surgical term for an operation that creates an opening into the stomach, usually through the abdominal wall. The opening can provide access for long-term feeding, commonly by means of a gastrostomy tube, or allow gastric drainage in selected cases. The word occurs in both British and American medical usage and is usually encountered in clinical, nursing, and hospital contexts. A gastrostomy does not mean that food bypasses the stomach; it provides an alternative route for placing nutrition directly into it. Although the term can sometimes be used loosely for the resulting opening, its primary sense is the surgical procedure. The related expression percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, commonly abbreviated PEG, identifies a particular minimally invasive technique for creating the access site.
nounA surgical procedure in which an opening is made into the stomach, usually through the abdominal wall, to provide access for feeding or drainage. The term may also refer to the opening created by the procedure.
- A surgical procedure that creates an opening into the stomach, usually through the abdominal wall, to permit feeding, drainage, or the placement of a tube.
- The opening into the stomach created by such a procedure, especially when it functions as an access site for feeding or drainage.
"After surgery left him unable to swallow safely, the patient was fed through a gastrostomy tube."
"The patient was fed through a gastrostomy tube."
"A gastrostomy was performed to allow long-term gastric drainage."
The standard plural is gastrostomies, used when referring to multiple procedures or openings.
"Several gastrostomies were performed during the course of the morning."
Sometimes the shortest route to the stomach is a surgical doorway: a gastrostomy creates an opening for feeding or drainage.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gastrostomy come from?
Gastrostomy combines the Greek-derived element gastro-, relating to the stomach, with -stomy, derived from Greek stoma, meaning mouth or opening. The form reflects the vocabulary of modern medical terminology, in which Greek roots are commonly combined to name surgical operations. Its relatives include gastric, gastritis, gastrectomy, and gastroscopy, all of which share the same Greek root for stomach.
Related word forms
How gastrostomy is actually used
This is a formal medical term used mainly in clinical contexts. It commonly refers either to the operation or to the resulting access site, and it should not be used as though it were synonymous with the tube placed through that opening.
Easily confused with gastrostomy
A gastrostomy creates a persistent opening into the stomach, whereas a gastrotomy is a surgical incision into the stomach.