Abstract
Long-term enteral nutrition of patients has proved to be of value not only in cases of esophageal stenosis but in disorders of deglutition due to other causes as well. Endoscopic methods are helpful because of their very low risk. We developed a technique of endoscopic gastrostomy in which a large feeding catheter is pulled through the gastric and abdominal walls perorally following puncture of the stomach with a trocar. The benefits of this method are its safety, the possibility of simultaneous enteral feeding and gastric decompression and the avoidance of tube-induced reflux esophagitis secondary to prolonged nasogastric intubation. Thus indications can be extended to patients in poor general condition and to those in whom gastrostomy is expected to be needed for a short period only.