Not too infrequently there occur complications of gastroenterostomy which seriously interfere with the nutrition of patients in the postoperative period. The magnitude of the nutritional embarrassment is usually maximum irrespective of the severity of the complication, the degree of nutritional impairment relating only to the duration of the particular complication. With the advent of a simple and highly efficient method of tube feeding,1 it seemed logical to apply this method to patients at the time of gastric anastomosis by guiding a fine polyethylene tube, indwelling in the stomach, through the stoma and into the efferent enteral loop at the time of performing open anastomosis. If it were found to possess no inherent disadvantages, such a tube could be left in situ until it was evident that no complications ensued and ingestion was feasible. Should, for any reason, ingestion be delayed, this already existent enterostomy could be employed. In long-term