Clinical Nutritionist Practice Test 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

A Gastrostomy tube, often referred to as a G-tube, is primarily used for patients who require long-term nutritional support and cannot meet their nutritional needs orally. This might be due to various medical conditions that impair swallowing, such as stroke, neurological disorders, certain cancers, or significant trauma to the mouth or throat.

In scenarios where patients are expected to recover their swallowing abilities within a short timeframe, alternative feeding methods may be preferred. These are more suitable for short-term needs, such as nasogastric tubes, which can be placed more readily and removed once the patient can eat independently again.

Gastrostomy tubes are not indicated for patients with mild food allergies or those who simply need assistance eating but can still swallow safely. Furthermore, it is not a primary solution for short-term feeding since inserting a G-tube is a more invasive process and typically reserved for situations where long-term use is anticipated. Therefore, the use of a Gastrostomy tube is most appropriate for patients needing consistent, long-term feeding solutions, thereby confirming the choice of long-term feeding as the correct answer.