Permanent gastrostomy as a solution to some nutritional problems in the elderly.

The number of elderly patients living in institutions is increasing. Many of them are unable to maintain an adequate nutritional status because of: 1) neurologic deficits that preclude normal swallowing; 2) obstruction of the upper gastrointestinal tract; or 3) a systemic disease that has produced profound anorexia. This report presents the data on 106 permanent-feeding gastrostomies, performed with low morbidity and low mortality. Use of a gastrointestinal anastomotic stapling device greatly facilitated the operation. The permanent gastrostomy offers an effective means of providing adequate nutrition for elderly patients who otherwise cannot maintain the necessary nutritional status.