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Esophageal bleeding after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.
1Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461.
Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology
|August 1, 1988
Summary
Significant bleeding after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy may be caused by esophageal mucosal erosions. These erosions, potentially from traumatic tube insertion, are a novel cause to consider in patient care.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Endoscopy
- Patient Safety
Background:
- Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a common procedure for enteral feeding.
- Post-procedure bleeding is a known complication, but its causes are not fully elucidated.
Observation:
- Two patients experienced significant bleeding after PEG placement.
- Esophageal mucosal erosions were observed via panendoscopy post-PEG, but not pre-procedure.
Findings:
- The esophageal erosions were potentially caused by traumatic passage of the feeding tube, string, or guide wire during insertion.
- This represents a novel mechanism for post-PEG bleeding.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider traumatic esophageal passage as a cause of bleeding after PEG.
- This finding may prompt modifications in PEG insertion techniques to minimize esophageal trauma.