Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in burn patients.

Background: Prolonged enteral feedings are required occasionally in seriously burned individuals. We have employed percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in selected patients who require particularly prolonged access, thus prompting this review.

Methods: The PEG procedure was performed under general anesthesia in combination with another surgical procedure using a variety of commercially available needle and guidewire kits in 14 patients.

Experience of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy at Massachusetts General Hospital--indications and complications.

Background: Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) is a relatively new method to deliver nutrition to patients with inadequate caloric intake who have a functionally intact gastrointestinal tract.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of 58 consecutive patients who were referred to the Surgical Endoscopy Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital for placement of PEG in 1996. The current indications, methods, and results of PEG will be discussed.

Quantitative cultures of the mucosal-associated bacteria in the mechanically prepared colon and rectum.

Little is known about the mucosal microflora of the colon and rectum at the time of elective surgery. Our objective was to determine the concentrations of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria associated with the mucosa of the mechanically prepared large bowel. Ten patients were studied after a standard polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage preparation.

Endoscopic resection of large sessile colorectal polyps.

Colonoscopic removal of large, sessile polyps is difficult, but can be successfully carried out by experienced endoscopists. "Piecemeal" resection with an electrocautery snare was performed at our institution in 108 patients with 132 such lesions. The mean size of the unresected polyps was 3.

Burned children from the Bashkir train-gas pipeline disaster. II. Follow-up experience at Children's Hospital 9, Moscow.

A group of US surgeons and nurses was invited by the Soviet surgeons and nurses of the Burn Unit of Childrens Hospital 9 to return to Moscow to participate in the evaluation and treatment of a group of 25 children burned in the Bashkir train-gas pipeline accident of 4 June 1989. The US group had participated in the acute care of the children 7 months before. Major sequelae observed were hepatitis, cardiomyopathy and severe emotional disorders.