Experience of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy at Massachusetts General Hospital--indications and complications

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) is a relatively new method to deliver nutrition to patients with inadequate caloric intake who have a functionally intact gastrointestinal tract.

This is a retrospective review of 58 consecutive patients who were referred to the Surgical Endoscopy Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital for placement of PEG in 1996. The current indications, methods, and results of PEG will be discussed.

Of this series, all but one patient had the PEG successfully placed. Indications included head and neck cancer (29 patients); neurological disorders (21 patients); burns (3 patients); respiratory failure (2 patients), and aspirations (2 patients). Fifty-four percent of cases were performed with local anaesthesia. There was one complication (2%) with no procedural-related mortality.

PEG is an easy and safe procedure. It is a good alternative to provide enteral feeding in selected patients.