An analysis of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy complications

Abstract

Objective: To determine the indications of early and late complications in 224 patients who underwent Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) procedure. Study Design: Observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of General Surgery, Karatay University and Medipol University, Turkey, from January 2014 to December 2020. Methodology: Patients' age, gender, primary diseases, PEG indications, morbidity, mortality, and complications were recorded by performing the PEG procedure. Hospitalisation, follow-up periods of the patients, and the re-insertion of PEG were evaluated. Results: The most common indication for PEG tube insertion was nutritional disorder associated with cerebrovascular diseases in 81 (37%) patients. No mortality was perceived due to the PEG tube insertion. However, mortality was observed in 84 (38.4%) patients in the first six months, in 6 (2.7%) patients between the sixth and twelfth month, and in 8 (3.7%) patients after the twelfth month. All these mortalities were attributed to the primary disease. In the early and late periods, complications were observed in the total of 45 (20.4%) patients. Among them, 17 (7.7%) patients experienced early period complications, whereas 28 (12.7%) patients experienced late period complications. Conclusion: Enteral nutrition should be preferred in order to avoid complications of parenteral nutrition in the patients who need long-term nutrition. In enteral nutrition, PEG should be preferred to surgical gastrostomy because it has less morbidity and mortality, can be done at the bedside and outpatiently when necessary, does not require general anesthesia, and is cheaper and practical.