Gastrostomy tubes: facts, fallacies, fistulas, and false tracts.

The first successful gastrostomy was performed 130 years ago. Although it is difficult to ascertain the exact number of gastrostomy or jejunostomy tubes placed annually in the United States, it is estimated approximately 230,000 gastrostomy procedures were performed in U.S. hospitals in 2001. Of these, 11,000 were performed in children. Despite the many years gastrostomy tubes have been in use, they are not free from complications. The purpose of this article is to review the authors' experience with pediatric patients who have undergone radiographic placement of gastrostomy or jejunostomy tubes.