Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) Practice Exam

What purpose do gastrostomy tubes primarily serve?

1. Provide long-term hydration

2. Facilitate airway management

3. Assist with stomach decompression or feeding

4. Support dietary intake of solid foods

The correct answer is: Assist with stomach decompression or feeding

Gastrostomy tubes are primarily utilized to assist with stomach decompression or feeding for patients who are unable to consume food orally due to various medical conditions. They provide a direct route into the stomach, allowing for the administration of liquid nutrition, hydration, and medications, thus enabling effective feeding and management of nutritional needs. This is especially crucial for patients with swallowing difficulties, neurological impairments, or gastrointestinal disorders that prevent normal eating. Providing long-term hydration is a function associated with gastrostomy tubes, but it is not their primary purpose. While hydration can be facilitated through these tubes as part of nutritional support, the main function is to deliver comprehensive feeding solutions directly into the stomach. Airway management is unrelated to the purpose of gastrostomy tubes, which are focused solely on the gastrointestinal tract, not the respiratory system. Supporting the dietary intake of solid foods also does not align with the function of a gastrostomy tube, as they are designed for liquid nutrition rather than whole foods.