Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in children: a single center study at Tertiary hospital Iran

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Medical Procedures
• Surgical Complications

Background:

• Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a common procedure for nutritional support in children.
• Evaluating complications associated with PEG is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
• Nemazee Hospital's pediatric gastroenterology department conducted this retrospective study.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the incidence and types of complications following percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in pediatric patients.
• To identify the primary indications for PEG insertion in this cohort.
• To analyze the safety profile of PEG procedures in a pediatric setting.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of all pediatric patients who underwent PEG between 2008 and 2013.
• Exclusion of specific medications (aspirin, NSAIDs, heparin) prior to the procedure.
• Standardized pre-procedure protocols including NPO status, antibiotic prophylaxis, and sedation (propofol/midazolam).

Main Results:

• A total of 39 pediatric patients underwent PEG.
• The overall complication rate was 10.2% (4 out of 39 patients).
• Neurologic problems (84.6%) were the most common indication for PEG, followed by metabolic diseases (10.2%).
• A significant majority (84.6%) of patients were below the third percentile for weight.

Conclusions:

• Cerebral palsy was identified as the leading indication for PEG in this pediatric population.
• The study reported a complication rate of 10.2% for PEG procedures.
• Cellulitis emerged as the most prevalent complication following PEG insertion.