SIMPLIFIED PERCUTANEOUS GASTROSTOMY

By using 16-F self-retaining feeding catheters, fluoroscopically guided percutaneous gastrostomy was performed in 68 consecutive adult patients without the use of gastric fixation devices. Short-term (2-week) follow-up of all patients was available, with 30-day follow-up obtained in 94% of the study group (n = 64). Thirty-day mortality was 12%, with no procedure-related deaths. Major and minor morbidity rates were 4.7% and 7.8%, respectively. The mean procedure time was 7 minutes. These data compared favorably with those of series employing smaller catheters placed with and without the use of gastropexy, as well as surgical gastrostomy and gastropexy procedures. Percutaneous placement of large-caliber (16-F) gastrostomy catheters is safe, effective, and rapid in the adult population and can be accomplished routinely without the use of prior gastropexy.