Apparatus and methods for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

Apparatus for performing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy comprising:

• an elongated flexible guide wire having a length sufficient to extend from a location outside the abdominal wall of a patient through the patient's stomach and esophagus and out the patient's mouth;
• an elongated sleeve having a tapered end portion and an internal diameter sized to enable slidable movement thereof along said guide wire, said sleeve having a length sufficient to extend from a location outside the abdominal wall of a patient through the patient's stomach and esophagus and out the patient's mouth;
• and
• a gastrostomy tube for reception within said sleeve and having a retention device adjacent an end portion thereof for retaining the gastrostomy tube within the patient's stomach in position for feeding.

A percutaneous endoscopic kit comprising:

• a container;
• a needle cannula with stylette in said container;
• an elongated flexible guide wire in said container, said wire having a length sufficient to extend from a location outside the abdominal wall of a patient through the patient's stomach and esophagus and out the patient's mouth;
• an elongated sleeve in said container and having a tapered end portion and an internal diameter sized to enable slidable movement thereof along said guide wire, said sleeve having a length sufficient to extend from a location outside the abdominal wall of a patient through the patient's stomach and esophagus and out the patient's mouth;
• one of a gastrostomy tube or jejunostomy tube in said container for reception within said sleeve;
• and
• a retention device in said container for location adjacent an end portion of said one tube for retaining said one tube in position for feeding.