TECHNIQUE AND COMPLICATIONS OF PERCUTANEOUS ENDOSCOPIC GASTROSTOMY IN CHILDREN

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is now a well-established technique in children. In this study of 63 children (mean age 7.8 years, youngest 2.4 months), technical problems associated with insertion of the gastrostomy tube, and complications related to the procedure, were analysed. Complications included wound infection, oesophageal injury (probably sustained during extraction of the guide wire) and symptomatic gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) occurring after PEG insertion. Many of these complications can be avoided or reduced in likelihood by refinements to the technique of insertion.