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Do’s and Don’t’s for the Leaking Gastrostomy tube

  • Nutrition, Metabolism, and Surgery (K Miller, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose for Review

This article aims to discuss the causes of gastrostomy tube leak (including percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube leak) and effective strategies to manage it.

Recent Findings

Choosing the appropriate solution for a gastrostomy tube leak is not always intuitive. For example, placing a gastrostomy tube that is larger in size through the same tract is not really helpful. Prevention of stoma leakage can be targeted by methods such as appropriately managing patients’ underlying comorbidities. An exciting advancement in treating gastrostomy tube leaks is the use of endoscopic clips and sutures.

Summary

Gastrostomy tube leakage is a possible post-procedural complication after gastrostomy tube placement. Potential causes range widely from gut dysmotility (e.g., gastroparesis, constipation) to buried bumper syndrome. Understanding the appropriate treatment strategies as well as what not to do is crucial. There are several treatment methods including preventing constipation and properly managing comorbidities. Further research will shed light on how to better treat and prevent gastrostomy tube leaks.

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References

Recently published papers of particular interest have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA

    Gayatri Suresh Kumar

  2. Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA

    Endashaw Omer

Authors
  1. Gayatri Suresh Kumar
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  2. Endashaw Omer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gayatri Suresh Kumar.

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Suresh Kumar, G., Omer, E. Do’s and Don’t’s for the Leaking Gastrostomy tube. Curr Surg Rep 9, 19 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40137-021-00296-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40137-021-00296-4

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