Laparoscopic Magnet-Assisted Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Placement

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Gastrostomy tube placement is a common procedure with various existing methods.
• Traditional percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) requires endoscopic guidance.
• This study introduces an alternative laparoscopic approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel laparoscopic technique for PEG tube placement.
• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of this method in pediatric patients.
• To determine if endoscopy can be obviated using this technique.

Main Methods:

• A laparoscopic magnet-assisted technique was employed for PEG tube insertion.
• An orogastric tube with an attached magnet was used to guide the percutaneous PEG wire.
• The magnet facilitated retrieval of the wire into the stomach.

Main Results:

• Four pediatric patients (mean age 31 months) successfully underwent the procedure in 2017.
• The laparoscopic magnet-assisted technique ensured accurate PEG wire retrieval in all cases.
• No immediate or long-term complications related to tube placement were observed.

Conclusions:

• Laparoscopic magnet-assisted PEG tube placement offers a precise alternative to traditional methods.
• This technique successfully avoids the need for intraoperative endoscopy.
• It presents a safe and effective option for pediatric gastrostomy tube insertion.