Laparoscopic assisted gastrostomy tube placement

Gastrostomy commonly is performed for patients who have esophageal stenosis or difficulty in swallowing. The fact that most patients who require a gastrostomy are malnourished or debilitated urges surgeons to seek a safe and simple procedure. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) was introduced into clinical use and recommended as the procedure of choice in the 1980s. However, for patients with obstruction of the oroesophageal canal, PEG was not possible, and only traditional open gastrostomy could be considered. We describe a technique for placement of a gastrostomy tube under laparoscopic guidance. The technique is simple and easily mastered, requires equipment routinely used in laparoscopic surgery, and can be used by surgeons without gastroendoscopic experience. When performed properly, the method is simple, economical, and reliable.