ABSTRACT
References 197
1. INTRODUCTION
Access to the gastrointestinal tract is necessary for the care of many children with a variety
of disorders. While short-term access may be accomplished with nasoenteric, oroenteric,
or anoenteric tubes, the establishment of abdominal wall stomas facilitates care of children
requiring chronic gastrointestinal access. Gastrostomies and jejunostomies are used
commonly as portals for enteral nutrition, whereas cecostomies are used for antegrade
enemas in children with constipation or fecal incontinence. The advancements in endo-
surgery have given surgeons powerful, minimal access tools for establishing entry to
hollow visceral structures using a combination of gastroscopy, colonoscopy, and laparo-
scopy. This chapter examines existing outcome data for gastrostomies, jejunostomies,
and cecostomies using minimal access surgery with a focus on the pediatric literature.
