[The percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy catheter as a therapeutic possibility in recurrent anus praeter prolapse]

A 67-year-old man with schizophrenia, well controlled by drugs, had undergone a left hemicolectomy with a terminal transverse colostomy and rectal stump closure (Hartmann's operation) for perforation of the sigmoid colon with diffuse peritonitis. 3 months later a large invagination of the transverse colon necessitated relaparotomy with further extensive resection of the colon and a new colostomy. Subsequent mild mucosal erosions were treated conservatively. He was referred to our hospital after another irreducible colon invagination through the colostomy. On admission there was an obvious, 15 cm long, prolapsing invagination of the colon with dark-blue swollen mucosa as a sign of venous obstruction.

After complicated manual reduction of the prolapsed invagination the transverse colon was fixed under coloscopy in the region of the right flexure by percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). Subsequently the repositioned colon portion was fixed near the colostomy with three more PEGs. These were brought out percutaneously from the intestinal lumen entirely by palpation. The four PEG tubes were removed 4 weeks later and examination after a further 4 weeks showed a good result.

After endoscopic repositioning of a gastric volvulus, sigmoid volvulus or upside-down stomach, the affected organ can in certain circumstances be anatomically fixed by PEG. This minimally invasive method was successfully used by us for the first time in the repair of a prolapsed colostomy.