Short-Term Complications of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy according to the Type of Technique

The method of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement can be divided into the pull and introducer techniques. We compared short-term complications and prognosis between patients who underwent the pull technique and two other types of introducer techniques, the trocar introducer technique and T-fastener gastropexy technique.

Twenty-six patients who underwent PEG were enrolled in this study. We retrospectively investigated the age, sex, body weight, weight-for-age Z-score, underlying diseases, PEG indications, complications, duration of NPO (nil per os), pain control frequency, and duration of antibiotic therapy. The patients were classified into three groups according to the PEG technique. The occurrence of complications was monitored for 10 weeks after the procedure.

The age, sex, body weight, and weight-for-age Z-score were not significantly between the three groups. Most patients had cerebral palsy and seizure disorders. Dysphagia was the most common indication for PEG. Major complications occurred in 5 (50%), 4 (66.7%), and 0 (0%) patients in group I, II, and III, respectively (p=0.005). Further, peristomal infection requiring systemic antibiotic therapy occurred in 2 (20%), 3 (50%), and 0 (0%) patients in group I, II, and III, respectively (p=0.04). There was no significant difference between the groups with respect to minor complications, duration of NPO, pain control frequency, and duration of antibiotic therapy.

The results indicate that the T-fastener gastropexy technique was associated with the lowest rate of major complications.