ABSTRACT
A 13-year-old Caucasian girl is referred to you for evaluation for a laparoscopic gastrostomy by a pediatric gastroenterologist. The patient was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease (CD) at 9 years of age. Her father and older sister also have CD. The patient's symptoms have consisted of intermittent bouts of severe abdominal pain and diarrhea, with occasional emesis. She has had little to no weight gain since diagnosis. Her disease has been controlled for the previous 6 months by exclusive enteral nutrition administered through a nasogastric feeding tube. A gastrostomy is requested in order to remove the nasogastric tube and continue exclusive enteral nutrition. During the evaluation, the patient and her family inquire whether other options exist.
