Experience of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy
Selim Sözen *
Department of General Surgery, Sözen Surgery Clinic, Megapol Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background and Aims: Enteral nutrition is important for the functions of the gastrointestinal mucosa, intestinal immunity and the maintenance of flora. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a preferred method in patients with an active gastrointestinal tract who require long-term enteral nutrition. In this retrospective study, we aimed to examine patients receiving percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, and discuss indications and early and late complications with reports in the literature.
Materials and Methods: Patients undergoing PEG between march 2022 and march 2023 were retrospectively examined. Ages, genders, main diagnoses, PEG-related complications and one-month mortality rates of the patients were recorded.
Results: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tubes were placed in 29 patients. Of the patients who included in the study, 20 (68%) were female and 9 (32%) were male. The mean age of the patients was 85.2 (30-95) years. The most common indication was Alzeimer, dementia, Parkinson's diseases. Two patients (6.89%) experienced procedure associated complications during hospitalization. One patient experienced periostomal infection and one bled from the procedure site. The PEG tube of the patient with periostomal infection was withdrawn. Two weeks later, the patient was re-inserted a PEG tube. In the patient with bleeding from the edge of the PEG tube, the PEG tube was not removed because the bleeding stopped spontaneously after approximately 12 hours of follow-up. Two patients (6.89%) were seen in outpatient clinic for long term follow-up; one patient had the tube displaced and one patient had the tube obstructed.
Conclusion: Enteral nutrition should be preferred in patients who require long-term nutrition to avoid the complications of parenteral nutrition. PEG-related complications were low in frequency and there were no cases of PEG-related mortality. PEG procedure has some advantages such as simplicity, low complication rates and long term enteral nutrition.
Keywords: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, enteral nutrition, complication