gastrostomy

A surgical procedure to create a stoma (artificial opening) into the stomach through the abdominal wall.

A gastrostomy creates a new path for food and liquid to enter the stomach. A feeding tube (gastrostomy tube) can be passed through the stoma into the stomach.

When an endoscope (a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and lens) is used to help guide doctors to create the stoma and place the gastrostomy tube, it is called percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG).