A surgical procedure where an opening is created in the esophagus and attached to the skin to allow feeding when normal swallowing is impossible.
From Greek 'esophagos' (gullet) + '-stomy' (surgical opening). The term combines the anatomical structure with a standard medical suffix indicating an artificial opening created surgically.
This procedure was a lifesaver before modern feeding tubes—patients with throat cancer or severe strictures could still receive nutrition by pouring liquids directly into a surgically-created opening. It's fascinating how surgeons found ways to work around nature's obstacles.
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