Percutaneous endoscopic gastroscopy tube migration: a rare cause of a common surgical problem

Percutaneous endoscopic gastroscopy (PEG) is now the preferred method for long-term enteral nutrition for patients with inadequate oral intake. It is usually replaced by a Foley catheter when it becomes non-functional because of blockage or wear and tear. PEG tube migration is an unusual complication which may not be noticed by the patient or the medical staff and may present as delayed small bowel obstruction. We report on a patient who developed such a complication and the missing PEG tube was replaced by a Foley catheter when it was thought the original tube had fallen out. The use of catheters with an external stop device is recommended to prevent this rare complication.