Complications of PEG are not related to age - The result of 10-year multicenter survey.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyze whether the insertion of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) during infancy is related to higher morbidity. Moreover, we analyzed the structure of indications to PEG placement in various age groups of pediatric patients.


METHODS
The study involved medical data of children after PEG insertion from six Polish endoscopic centers: infants (<12 months of age), toddlers (12-36 months), and preadolescents (>36 months).


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of early complications associated with PEG insertion was 5.14%; while they were noted in infants and preadolescents, none were recorded in toddlers. The analyzed age groups did not differ significantly in terms of the prevalence of late complications. Cerebral palsy (34.86%) and other chronic neurological conditions (34.29%) were the most frequent indications to PEG insertion in the whole group. Patients with congenital heart defects and multiple defect syndrome were inserted PEG at the youngest age; in contrast, the age at insertion was the highest in cystic fibrosis patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The early qualification to nutritional intervention via endoscopically formed gastrostomy can have important clinical implications with regards to improved therapeutic outcomes and reduced morbidity rates.
Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdańsk, Poland. Electronic address: aga1@gumed.edu.pl.
Agnieszka
A
Szlagatys-Sidorkiewicz
Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdańsk, Poland.
Anna
A
Borkowska
Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
Katarzyna
K
Popińska
Department of Allergology, Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Medical University, Lodz, Poland.
Ewa
E
Toporowska-Kowalska
Department of Pediatrics, Silesian Medical Academy, Katowice, Poland.
Urszula
U
Grzybowska-Chlebowczyk
Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Feeding Disorders, The Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
Anna
A
Wernicka
Department of Pediatrics and Gastroenterology, Area Hospital in Torun, Torun, Poland.
Ewa
E
Hapyn
Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
Marta
M
Sibilska
Department of Allergology, Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Medical University, Lodz, Poland.
Beata
B
Gębora-Kowalska
Department of Pediatrics, Silesian Medical Academy, Katowice, Poland.
Sabina
S
Więcek
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
Paweł
P
Zagożdżon
Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Feeding Disorders, The Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
Jarosław
J
Kierkuś
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence
Children; Complications; Enteral feeding; Gastrostomy; Malnutrition; Safety