What is a gastrostomy tube primarily used for?

A gastrostomy tube is primarily used to provide nutritional support through a surgically created opening in the stomach. This type of feeding tube allows for direct access to the stomach for delivering nutrition, which is especially important for patients who are unable to consume food orally due to various medical conditions such as neurological disorders, head and neck cancers, or severe swallowing difficulties.

This method ensures that the patient receives an adequate amount of calories and nutrients necessary for maintaining their health and promoting recovery, especially when oral intake is insufficient or impossible. By bypassing the oral and esophageal routes, a gastrostomy tube also minimizes the risk of aspiration pneumonia, which can occur if food or liquid enters the airway instead of the stomach.

Other options provided do not align with the primary purpose of a gastrostomy tube. For instance, the delivery of medications orally does not require a surgical intervention like a gastrostomy and can typically be accomplished through standard oral routes, while measuring blood pressure and conducting medical research are unrelated to the nutritional support role of a gastrostomy tube.