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Late-onset complications of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in children

D Ségal1, L Michaud, D Guimber

  • 1Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Lille Faculty of Medicine and Children's Hospital, Lille, France.

Insights

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in children leads to significant late complications, primarily within two years post-insertion. This study found no identifiable clinical risk factors for these complications, highlighting the need for continued monitoring.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Surgical Complications
  • Medical Device Safety

Background:

  • Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a common procedure for enteral nutrition in pediatric patients.
  • While generally safe, late-onset complications can impact patient outcomes and require careful management.
  • Understanding the incidence and nature of these complications is crucial for improving patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To document the frequency and types of late-onset complications following PEG insertion in children.
  • To investigate potential clinical risk factors associated with the development of these complications.
  • To provide insights into the long-term safety profile of PEG in a pediatric population.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective analysis of 110 pediatric patients who underwent PEG insertion using the pull technique.
  • Follow-up ranged from 1 to 8 years, recording complications occurring more than 6 days post-insertion (excluding tube obstruction/dislodgement).
  • Statistical tests (Wilcoxon, chi-square) were employed to identify potential risk factors by comparing patient characteristics and device materials.

Main Results:

  • The overall rate of late-onset complications was 44%, with 75% occurring within the first two years.
  • Intragastric buried or extruded gastrostomy was the most frequent complication (n=24).
  • No specific clinical risk factors were identified, although one type of button device was associated with higher rates of buried gastrostomy compared to tubes.

Conclusions:

  • PEG insertion in children is associated with considerable late morbidity, predominantly within the initial two years.
  • Despite the observed complications, this study could not identify any specific clinical risk factors.
  • Further research may be needed to elucidate potential contributing factors and optimize PEG safety in pediatric patients.
Abstract

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