Final answer:
A gastrostomy is an invasive procedure to insert a feeding tube directly into the stomach to prevent malnutrition or starvation when oral intake is not possible.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question is A. Gastrostomy. A gastrostomy is a palliative invasive procedure that involves creating an opening into the stomach (gastro-) for the insertion of a tube. This procedure is done to ensure that a patient can receive nutrition when they are unable to eat by mouth, thus preventing malnutrition or starvation. It is commonly used in patients with conditions that impair their ability to swallow or take in nutrients orally.
While procedures like jejunostomy and duodenostomy also create openings into parts of the digestive system to allow for nutrition, they connect to the jejunum and duodenum, respectively. A colostomy is not related to nutrition intake but rather the removal of waste from the body when the lower part of the colon has been compromised.