Catheter assembly and method for internally anchoring a catheter in a patient

A method for inserting a gastrostomy tube into a patient, comprising:

• inserting a distal end of an endoscope, a scope cap, and an internal bolster through the patient's mouth into the patient's stomach;
• making an incision in the patient's abdominal wall and stomach from the outside of the patient's body;
• inserting a catheter having a fitting on the distal end thereof into the stomach through the incision;
• and
• connecting the fitting to the internal bolster, said connecting taking place inside the patient.

A method for internally anchoring a catheter in a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) inserting a first end of a catheter into a patient from outside the body of the patient through an incision in the abdominal wall of the patient;
• (b) endoscopically delivering an internal bolster through the mouth of the patient;
• and
• (c) while said first end of said catheter is disposed within the patient, physically coupling said internal bolster to said first end of said catheter so as to internally anchor the catheter within the patient;
• whereby no contact is made with the incision in the abdominal wall by any tube passed through the oral cavity.