Attention to small details: big deal for gastrostomies

Gastrostomy tubes are used in the pediatric population when long-term enteral feeding is needed. A common method of placement is percutaneously with endoscopy (PEG, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy). Although PEG placement is a straightforward procedure most of the time, it can be associated with a significant rate of minor complications and a smaller but significantly important rate of major complications. Some of these complications may also occur after any type of gastrostomy. We will present representative case studies outlining major complications and discuss how we may be able to prevent them at the time of PEG insertion or during PEG to low-profile button gastrostomy exchange. The proposed guidelines apply to all types of gastrostomies.

Keywords: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), Laparoscopic gastrostomy, Stamm gastrostomy, Peritonitis, Pneumoperitoneum, Gastroenteric fistula