Safety of the One Step Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (Push-PEG) Button in Pediatric Patients.

OBJECTIVES: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG)-systems are essential tools for enteral feeding in a broad variety of pediatric patients. The One Step ("Push-PEG") technique allows the direct introduction of a PEG-Button. The aim of the study was to investigate the safety and parental view of the Push-PEG technique. METHODS: We conducted a single-center retrospective data and questionnaire (SDC, http://links.lww.com/MPG/D296 ) based study including all pediatric patients receiving a PEG via push or pull technique between 2015 until end of 2020 and compared these 2 groups. The primary outcome was the detection of minor and major complications. Secondary outcomes were growth, thriving, and parental contentment using a Likert-scaled questionnaire. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients were included in the analysis. There were no significant differences in the basic data regarding age, weight, or diagnosis category. Overall complication rate was 34.9%. The Push-PEG group showed a lower rate of complications (32.7% vs 38.7%) and a lower rate of major complications (4.1% vs 8.8%), although the difference is not significant. Thirty-four families completed the questionnaire (SDC, http://links.lww.com/MPG/D296 ) (response rate 40%). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups regarding answers of the Likert-scaled questions. CONCLUSION: Push-PEG placement seems to be as safe as placement via traditional pull technique, even in small infants more than 2.8 months and 4 kg. As Push-PEG placement requires less follow-up interventions it may show significant advantages and could be the method of first choice in many cases.

Deterioration in hygiene behavior among fifth-year medical students during the placement of intravenous catheters: a prospective cohort comparison of practical skills.

BACKGROUND: The American Association of Medical Colleges has defined peripheral intravenous cannulation as one of the eight practical skills that a medical student should possess upon graduation. Since following a standard hygiene protocol can reduce the rate of complications such as bloodstream infections, the medical student's compliance to hygienic standards is highly relevant. METHODS: This unicentric longitudinal cohort study included 177 medical students undergoing OSCE 1 in the winter semesters 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 as well as OSCE 2 during the winter semesters 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 at the University of Cologne. Their performance in peripheral intravenous cannulation was rated by trained student supervisors using a scaled 13-item questionnaire and compared between OSCE 1 and OSCE 2. RESULTS: Overall, a decline in the correct placement of peripheral intravenous catheters was observed among advanced medical students during OSCE 2 (mean total score: 6.27 ± 1.84) in comparison to their results in OSCE 1 (mean total score: 7.67 ± 1.7). During OSCE 2, the students were more negligent in regard to hygienic behavior, such as disinfection of the puncture site as well as hand disinfection before and after venipuncture. Their patients were also less likely to be informed about the procedure as compared to OSCE 1. CONCLUSIONS: An unsatisfying performance in regard to peripheral intravenous cannulation was observed in medical students with hygiene compliance deteriorating between the third and fifth year of their study. Thus, we promote an extension of practical hygiene and stress management training in medical school to reduce complications associated with intravenous catheters, such as bloodstream infections.