CT guidance for percutaneous gastrostomy and gastroenterostomy.

The authors describe the value of computed tomographic (CT) guidance for percutaneous gastrostomy (PG) or gastroenterostomy (PGE) in 22 patients with anatomic or pathologic difficulties precluding fluoroscopic guidance. Indications for PG or PGE were decompression for gastrointestinal obstruction (n = 15) or for feeding (n = 7). Thirteen patients previously underwent an unsuccessful attempt at or had been rejected as unsuitable for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. CT guidance was selected because of inability to pass a nasogastric tube due to esophageal obstruction (n = 4), inability to tolerate gastric distention (n = 1), abnormal morphology in or around the stomach (n = 16), or simultaneous performance of a PG in one patient who was undergoing emergency CT-guided abscess drainage. Catheters were placed successfully in all 22 patients. No major complications occurred. CT is valuable for PG or PGE when anatomic or pathologic problems make fluoroscopic or endoscopic puncture unsafe or impossible.