[Fluoroscopic-guided primary single-step percutaneous gastrostomy: initial results using the Freka® GastroTube]

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Interventional Radiology

Context:

• Percutaneous gastrostomy (PG) is a common procedure for enteral feeding.
• Traditional PG often involves a two-step approach.
• Evaluating novel, single-step techniques is crucial for improving patient care and resource management.

Purpose:

• To assess the feasibility and outcomes of fluoroscopic-guided primary one-step percutaneous gastrostomy (PG) using the Freka® Gastro Tube system.
• To compare the complication rates and costs of this single-step method against established two-step procedures.

Summary:

• A study involving 39 patients demonstrated the technical success of fluoroscopic-guided primary one-step PG.
• The majority of patients (74.4%) experienced no complications, with a mean follow-up of 155.3 days.
• Complications, primarily tube dislocation, occurred in 25.6% of patients, with no clinically relevant wound infections reported.

Impact:

• The single-step fluoroscopic-guided PG is a viable alternative to the two-step approach, with comparable complication rates.
• This method significantly reduces material costs and conserves human and time resources.
• Implementing this technique can lead to more efficient and cost-effective patient management in clinical settings.