Percutaneous endoscopic gastrotomy tubes have been inserted in 50 patients with no mortality and minimal morbidity. The principal indications for their insertion were an inability to swallow (39 patients), a need for nutritional support (eight patients) and venting (three patients). The most common complication was peristomal wound infection (14 patients), the incidence of which was reduced significantly by the use of single-dose prophylactic antibiotic therapy. Percutaneous gastrostomies provide adequate nutrition with minimal morbidity in an acceptable way to both patients and those who care for them.