Combined laparoscopic-fluoroscopic technique for primary gastrojejunostomy button tube placement.

Background: Gastrojejunostomy (GJ) tubes are frequently used to provide pediatric enteral nutritional support for pediatric patients. Various placement methods have been described, each with attendant advantages and disadvantages. We present a technique for primary laparoscopic/fluoroscopic GJ button tube placement designed to avoid delay in placement of the jejunal limb, and difficulties associated with endoscopic-assisted and primary fluoroscopic placement.

Results: There were 52 gastrojejunostomy button tubes placed via this technique in patients ranging from 3.8 to 90.3 kg in weight. Three postoperative complications were identified; one bowel perforation on postoperative day two, and two tube dislodgements within 30 days.

Conclusions: The described technique was uniformly effective and was associated with a low complication rate (5.8%).