title: Practical considerations of the gastrostomy button.
abstract: Low-profile gastrostomy replacement devices (LPGRDs), also called gastrostomy buttons, provide patients with a desirable alternative to traditional catheters. Contraindications to LPGRDs include acutely angled gastrostomy tracts, tracts created with a mucosa lining, the need for jejunal feedings or significant decompression, planned retroesophageal dilation and tracts that are longer than the LPGRDs. Gastrostomy and patient considerations lead to a variety of scheduling practices. Management adaptations help maintain LPGRD patency and functioning of the anti-reflux valve and plug. Other adaptations are necessary for patients receiving thickened feedings or medications per gastrostomy, needing intermittent decompression or having high intra-abdominal pressure. Determining the correct LPGRD size and dilating the tract or cauterizing conclude this discussion which is summarized in a checklist following the text.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Townsend
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D014945:Wound Healing