Clinical observations of minimal gastrostomy through minilaparotomy in palliative patients

Abstract

Gastrostomy is used to feed palliative patients with dysphagia. Currently, the preference is given to percutaneous puncture methods of gastrostomy, which do not require general anesthesia. Percutaneous puncture techniques are possible only if the patency of the upper parts of the digestive tract still exists for the «pull method» and can require additional X-ray irradiation in case of the «push method». These operations require expensive disposable kits, which affects the prevalence and availability of the technique. Therefore, the use of an alternative minimally invasive gastrostomy through minilaparotomy is justified. Minimal-invasive pressure gastrostomy is known for a long time, and in combination with small access, it can be successfully used to provide nutrition for palliative patients with dysphagia. Most patients with dysphagia have a thin anterior abdominal wall, which allows using minimal access. It is important to choose the right place of the incision so that access is in the area of the formation of the fistula. To obtain additional diagnostic information one can use a radiography of the abdominal cavity, which shows the gas bubble of the stomach, and other high-tech methods: ultrasound, spiral computed tomography, etc. At the same time such patients do not require general anesthesia, it is possible to perform the operation under a local anesthesia. The article provides a detailed description of the technique of minimal invasive laparotomy gastrostomy and two clinical observations of palliative patients who underwent this operation.

Keywords

• gastrostomy
• palliative patients
• dysphagia
• minilaparotomy