Limitations of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in facilitating enteral nutrition in children: Review of the shortcomings of a new technique

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) insertion became the preferred technique for facilitating enteral nutrition in children unable to take adequate caloric intake orally once its advantages over the standard Stamm gastrostomy became apparent. It has taken longer for some of its limitations and shortcomings to be recognized. Problems encountered during PEG insertion include: inability to enter the stomach with the trocar, oesophageal laceration, colonic perforation, gastrocolo-cutaneous fistula, peritonitis, subcutaneous emphysema, external migration of inner flange, wound infection, peristomal excoriation. symptomatic gastro-oesophageal reflux requiring later fundoplication, intestinal obstruction and haemorrhage. Many of these complications can be avoided by attention to technique.