[Modern technics of tube feeding]

A prospective study was done in 101 patients and clinical usefulness of a fine needle-catheter-jejunostomy was investigated; this procedure was modified according to the procedure devised by Delany (2). The instruments used were two split canules and a polyurethane catheter (inner diameter 2.1 mm); these instruments are simple, safe and can be applied quickly. Formation of fistulae, peritonitis, ileus or deaths caused by the procedure could not be observed. The catheter needs to have certain mechanical qualities as e.g. sufficient rigidity. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is an alternative to corresponding surgery procedure. The stomach is punctured under sight and a Foley catheter is applied immediately. We performed this procedure without major complications in seven cases, and found it to be very useful. The techniques described here are essentially important if the advantages of the enteral as compared to the parenteral nutrition are to be made use of. As soon as the problems of diarrhea and belching are solved, tube feeding will offer in the near future a real alternative to parenteral nutrition, especially in patients who need long time artificial nutrition.