Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in a military hospital

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a simple, relatively safe and cost effective means of establishing enteral access for patients requiring long term nutritional support. PEG has several advantages over surgical gastrostomy and should be considered the procedure of choice for long term enteral therapy in appropriate patients. At the Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital (QEMH) between June 1992 and October 1993 thirteen percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies were successfully performed. Eight were performed in soldiers, seven of these were following major neurological trauma. The procedure is described and the literature is reviewed.