[Endoscopic gastrostomy: a follow-up study]

Since 1981 to 1989 we have performed percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in 285 patients with age range of 6 months to 97 years old; the main indication was enteral feeding in 278 cases, drainage of gastric secretion in 5 cases and in 2 patients for bile replacement of external biliary drainage. The procedure was successful in 98.2% of the cases, with major complications in 1.8% and minor complications in 12.7% mortality of 0.7% PEG is an efficient, rapid, worldwide accepted method because it is a bedside technique with minimal morbidity, low cost and insignificant mortality.