Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomies in Children
Our ability to maintain the nutritional status of acute and chronically ill children is enhanced by advances in special enteral feedings.1-3 When compared with parenteral nutrition, enteral feedings are accompanied by fewer complications, the ability to deliver large quantities of nutrients, relative ease of administration, and lower cost.2,3 Nasogastric feedings are very manageable for short-term therapy; however, in those patients requiring long-term support, a feeding gastrostomy can offer several advantages.4 Feeding gastrostomies have traditionally been placed via laparotomy under general anesthesia.5 We would like to describe our experience, as pediatric gastroenterologists and endoscopists, in the use of this technique in children.