PACKAGE FOR THE PLACEMENT OF GASTROSTOMY DEVICE

摘要

A low profile or skin level gastrostomy device for initial endoscopic placement in an incision provided through the stomach and abdominal walls of a patient has a collapsed resilient end portion packaged and compressed within a shroud that allows the end portion of the device positioned within the stomach to easily pass from the inner to the outer end of the incision. The shroud is pulled or pushed outwardly through the incision until the device is properly positioned therein. Subsequent to device placement, the shroud is removed and discarded, allowing the now external end portion of the device to expand to its normal position so as to engage the outer surface of the abdominal wall to maintain the device in position. Such a gastrostomy device package and method of placement avoid the need for establishing a fistulas stoma tract before placement of a low profile gastrostomy device, as is the usual case.