Percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy

Gastrostomy is a preferred method of nutrition in patients with impaired ability to eat. Although surgical gastrostomy is a well-established method and has been widely performed in the last century, beginning with early 1980s, percutaneous gastrostomy techniques, either endoscopic or radiologic, has widely gained acceptance. As percutaneous methods have been shown to be an effective, safe, easy to perform and low-cost techniques with low morbidity and mortality rates, nowadays percutaneous gastrostomy is the first method of choice in need of nutrition in patients with functioning gut. In this article authors review the technique of percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy, as well as indications, contraindications, variations of technique, ethical considerations, controversies and comparison with surgical and endoscopic methods. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.