Jv. Mauterer et al., NEW TECHNIQUE AND MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES FOR PERCUTANEOUS NONENDOSCOPIC TUBE GASTROSTOMY, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 205(4), 1994, pp. 574-579
A percutaneous nonendoscopic gastrostomy tube placement device and a n
ew technique for nonendoscopic gastric feeding tube placement were dev
eloped for use in animals weighing < 15 kg. After a successful experim
ental trial in 7 cats, the tube placement device was used in 8 clinica
l animals (7 cats and 1 dog). All gastrostomy feeding tubes were place
d on the first attempt within 10 minutes. Position of the tube was eva
luated by endoscopy in 14 of 15, by radiography in 4 of 15, and by cel
iotomy and necropsy in 2 of 15 animals, respectively. Placement was co
mparable to the percutaneous endoscopic technique in all but 1 cat. In
this animal, the tube had to be placed exiting the shin in a caudoven
tral location because of severe panniculitis. Complications related to
the use of the tube placement device were not observed. Complications
related to gastrostomy tube management developed in 5 of 15 animals.
The prevalence of clinically important or life-threatening complicatio
ns (peritonitis or premature removal) was 3 of 15.