Radiologically-guided percutaneous gastrostomy: Three-year follow up and literature review

Summary

Feeding gastrostomy is a well recognized means of nutritional support in patients unable to maintain satisfactory nutrition by the oral route. Access can be achieved at open surgery or using endoscopic or radiological techniques. We describe our experience with the placement of radiologically-guided percutaneous feeding gastrostomies and compare our results with other reported series. Thirty-two patients were offered percutaneous gastrostomy in the study period and their outcome recorded for up to 3 years. The results suggest that we should perhaps be more stringent in our patient selection criteria in view of the poor outcome in elderly high risk patients who have suffered a stroke.

Key Words:

• gastrostomy
• radiology