Establishment of a permanent gastrostomy for feeding the patient is even at the end of the 20th century a task for a surgeon, the operation being in the majority laparoscopic. This mutilating operation is however highly selective and unique and is used only after other possible ways to restore food intake by the natural route was exhaused. The most expedient way of recanalization of the oesophagus in inoperable tumours is nowadays insertion of an autoexpansive stent.

        Key words: inoperable tumour of the oesophagus and cardia – gastrostomy – autoexpansive stents