RESUMO
Background: Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy [PEG] is the standard option for long-term nutritional support in infants and children with nutritional deficit due to feeding difficulties
Objective: To assess the indications, complications and long-term efficacy of PEG
Design: A Retrospective Study
Setting: Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland
Method: One hundred forty-eight patients underwent PEG insertion from October 2004 to December 2007. Data were reviewed from the Hospital Inpatient Enquiry [HIPE] and patients' charts
Result: One hundred forty-eight patients underwent PEG insertion; 91 [61.5%] males and 57 [38.5%] females with a median age of 15 months [range 1-190 months]. The procedure was abandoned in one patient due to unfavorable anatomy [failure rate 0.7%], and this patient is excluded from this report. PEG was indicated for feeding difficulties in 102 [68.9%] patients, recur rent aspiration pneumonia in 15 [10.1%] and failure to thrive in 31 [11.6%V No mortality was recorded; however, 15 [10.1%] patients developed stomal leakage and 3 [2%] of these required change of PEG. Nine [6%] patients developed a wound infection, 2 [1.4%] developed a gastrocolic fistula, 1 [0.7%] patient developed adhesive intestinal obstruction requiring laparotomy and adhesiolysis. Two [1.4%] patients had aspiration pneumonia, 3 [2%] had inadvertent tube removal, 4 [2.7%] had tube blockage, 3 [2%] had tube breakdown, 2 [1.4%] had tube migration, 5 [3.4%] had vomiting and 6 [4%] patients had excess granulation tissue
Conclusion: PEG tube feeding is an efficient, well-tolerated method for medium and long-termenteral feeding with excellent results and minimal overall morbidity