PACKAGE FOR INITIAL PLACEMENT OF LOW PROFILE GASTROSTOMY DEVICE AND METHOD OF PLACEMENT

摘要

A low profile or skin level gastrostomy device (20)for initial endoscopic placement in an incision providedthrough the stomach (64) and abdominal walls (62) of apatient having a collapsed resilient end portion (24)packaged and compressed within a shroud (30) that allows the endportion (24) of the device (20) positioned within the stomach(61) to easily pass from the inner to the outer end of theincision. The shroud (30) is pulled or pushed outwardlythrough the incision until the device (20) is properlypositioned therein. Subsequent to device placement, the shroud(30) is removed and discarded, allowing the now external endportion (24) of the device (20) to expand to its normalposition so as to engage the outer surface of the abdominalwall (62) to maintain the device (20) in position. Such agastrostomy device package (10) and method of placement avoidthe need for establishing a fistulas stoma tract beforeplacement of a low profile gastrostomy device, as is theusual case.