Laparoendoscopic Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy in Adults

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery

Background:

• Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement is increasingly common in Western countries.
• However, PEG placement is not always feasible.
• Laparoscopic-assisted endoscopic gastrostomy (LAPEG) presents an effective alternative solution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of LAPEG as an alternative to PEG.
• To assess the outcomes of LAPEG in patients where initial PEG placement failed.

Main Methods:

• Sixteen patients who failed initial PEG placement underwent LAPEG.
• The procedure involved the use of laparoscopic trocars (5mm and 12mm).
• Gastrotomy was performed in some cases, while others utilized a sutureless technique.

Main Results:

• All sixteen LAPEG procedures were successful, with one requiring repeat placement.
• The median patient age was 73 years.
• Nutritional feeding commenced within 1-2 days post-procedure, depending on the technique used.

Conclusions:

• LAPEG is a safe endoscopic gastrostomy technique with a low complication rate.
• It is a valuable minimally invasive option when standard PEG placement is not possible.