Fluoroscopically guided percutaneous gastrostomy in children.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Interventional Radiology

Background:

• Establishing long-term nutritional access is crucial for pediatric patients with specific medical conditions.
• Traditional methods may carry risks or be unsuitable for certain age groups.
• Percutaneous gastrostomy offers a less invasive alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous gastrostomy using solely fluoroscopic guidance in pediatric patients.
• To assess complication rates and patient tolerance for tube feeding.
• To determine the feasibility of this technique for long-term nutritional support.

Main Methods:

• Percutaneous gastrostomy was performed in 27 pediatric patients (age range: 7 months–18 years).
• Access to the stomach was exclusively guided by fluoroscopy.
• Patient outcomes, including technical success, complications, and feeding tolerance, were monitored.

Main Results:

• 100% technical success rate was achieved in all procedures.
• No major complications (death, sepsis, hemorrhage, peritonitis) were reported.
• Minor complications included local skin infection in 6 patients; 96% tolerated tube feedings well.
• Survival rate at 30 days was 96%.

Conclusions:

• Percutaneous gastrostomy under fluoroscopic guidance is a safe and effective procedure for pediatric patients.
• This method provides reliable long-term non-enteral nutritional access.
• Fluoroscopic guidance simplifies the procedure while maintaining high success and safety standards.