[Experience in performance of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in 60 children]

The Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) has radically changed the handling of the children with nutritional problems that until then were forced to receive nutritionals contributions by parenteral or enteral way, by nasogastric tube, conventional surgical gastrostomy or by central venous access. The objective of this work was to evaluate our experience with 60 patients, with diverse pathologies, that needed a PEG so that they could receive a suitable nutritional contribution. Were registered data of age, sex, reason for the accomplishment of the PEG, used surgical time, days of hospital stay and we analyzed the complications derived from the technique. There were two important complications. In one case one was a patient who presented a gastrocolic fistula as a result of the perforation of the colon in the accomplishment of the PEG and in another case a necrotizing fascitis in a girl who presented a choanal bilateral atresia. The rest of the complications were minor and they were treated without problems. The complications have been comparable to the registered in other series. Although the technique is simple and fast, is not free of risks, reason why it is necessary to inform suitably to the parents of the possibility of complications. In general, the degree of satisfaction of the parents was high.