Percutaneous gastrostomy.

Percutaneous gastrostomy was performed in 7 patients using standard interventional techniques. The procedure was successful in 6 patients but was terminated in the seventh patient because of pain. In 5 cases, feeding posed no difficulty; one patient had outlet obstruction, perhaps related to a duodenal ulcer. In one patient the catheter was removed following improvement. In 3 it continued to function until death, although in one case feeding became difficult shortly before death. The seventh patient is alive and tolerating catheter feedings well, even though catheterization was difficult because of ascites. Indications for percutaneous gastrostomy include neoplasms involving the digestive system proximal to the stomach, facial trauma and burns, debilitation, and distal enteric intubation in patients who cannot tolerate gastric feeding.