Complications of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.
OBJECTIVE
To report our experience of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy with particular reference to complications and tube dysfunction.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Teaching hospital, Denmark.


METHODS
135 patients who required 178 gastrostomy tubes between 1.1.1990 and 30.6.1994.


METHODS
101 patients had the tubes inserted by the introducer technique and 34 by the pull-through method.


METHODS
Complications and incidence of tube dysfunction.


RESULTS
The overall complication rate was 43/135 (32%), including tube dysfunction; 17 (13%) developed a serious complication (intraperitoneal leakage, wound infection, or subcutaneous emphysema) and 6 died (4%). In each case the introducer had been used. 28 patients (21%) had a non-functioning tube exchanged sometimes more than once. The mean life-span of the tubes were 3.8 months, and seemed to be independent of the technique chosen for introduction. 66 patients (49%) died with a functioning tube. 24 (18%) died within a month of the insertion.


CONCLUSIONS
serious complications leading to laparotomy, wound infection, or intraperitoneal abscess developed in 17 patients (13%), in all of whom the introducer technique had been used. The safer pull-through technique is therefore recommended.
Petersen
T I
TI
Department of Surgery L, University Hospital of Aarhus, Denmark.
Kruse
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000601:surgery*