[Simplified procedure for endoscopic administration of enteral feeding catheters]

Due to the immobilisation of patients in intensive care units or to pathologic alterations in the upper gastrointestinal tract caused by stenosis or anastomosis, the insertion of feeding tubes into the duodenum has been difficult in some cases. For this reason an enteral feeding tube has been developed which can be introduced through the biopsy channel of an endoscope so that it is possible to place the tube under visual control. This method has been used in more than 20 patients; in each case the positioning of the tube and the consecutive nutrition were free of complications. The required material is now commercially available.