Unusual complications of long-term percutaneous gastrostomy tubes

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) has been popular since it was introduced in 1980. Gastrostomy tubes left in place for long periods often result in unusual complications. Complications may also result from simply replacing a long-term indwelling tube. Five patients who had gastrostomy tubes in place for as long as 4 years are presented and their complications reviewed. Various methods used in treating these complications are discussed, and suggestions for their prevention are given. Gastrointestinal erosion and jejunal perforation following migration of the gastrostomy tube, persistent abdominal wall sinus tracts, and separation of the flange head with small bowel obstruction were encountered. Reinsertion of a gastrostomy tube through a tract prior to adequate maturation was also noted to lead to complications. Complications may result from gastrostomy tubes left in place for extended periods of time and during replacement procedures. Awareness of such complications along with education of caregivers and timely intervention by the endoscopist may prevent such occurrences. In some cases one can only hope to minimize morbidity.     

Concomitant placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and jejunostomy

Summary Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies have gained wide use for long-term enteral nutrition. However, gastroesophageal reflux and aspiration pneumonia have occurred following this procedure. Initial enthusiasm concerning the ability of intrajejunal feeding to negate the risk of aspiration has been challenged by some reports. In this report, a new method is described for concomitant placement of endoscopic gastrostomy and feeding jejunostomy wherein the tip of the feeding jejunostomy is placed at least 40 cm distal to the pylorus while the gastrostomy tube is used for drainage. Twenty critically ill patients underwent the procedure utilizing general or local anesthesia. Sixty-day followup showed one uneventful episode of pulmonary aspiration (5%) after retrograde migration of the jejunal tube into the duodenum. All but two patients (90%) tolerated their tube feedings well. This technique can be easily performed with accurate placement of the PEJ tube distal to the pylorus and is associated with minimal risk of aspiration.     

Single Port Access (SPA™) gastrostomy tube in patients unable to receive percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy placement

Background  Access procedures for alimentation have been performed both endoscopically and surgically. In those patients in whom endoscopic tubes cannot be placed, the minimally invasive approach is a viable alternative. To minimize incisions and their sequelae, we have developed a single port access (SPA) technique in which minimal access surgery can be done through one portal of entry, often the umbilicus. Methods  We have used the SPA technique to place gastric feeding tubes in patients who are not candidates for PEG tubes due to supraglottic stenosis. We reviewed our experience in the first five procedures we performed. Results  In all five patients a gastrostomy tube was placed laparoscopically via an umbilical incision and a left-upper-quadrant tube insertion point. Mean operative time was 44 min. All patients began tube feeds on postoperative day 1. Conclusion  We present the first series of five SPA gastric tube placements, offering a viable alternative to PEG or open placement.     

A simplified technique for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

Summary Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the preferred method of establishing long-term enteral access for feeding. Many patients requiring PEG are elderly and at risk for complications. Expeditious placement of the gastrostomy tube will minimize complications, but distorted esophageal anatomy can significantly lengthen the procedure. Some endoscopists abandon conventional repeat gastroscopy in difficult cases to accelerate the procedure. The authors describe a reliable method for quick reinsertion of the endoscope which shortens time required for PEG, and may reduce complications.     

A new endoscopic technique for the buried bumper syndrome

Background The Buried Bumper Syndrome is a well-recognized long-term complication of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). Overgrowth of gastric mucosa over the inner bumper of the tube will cause mechanical failure of feed delivery, rendering the tube useless. Endoscopic removal is usually attempted but fails in most cases. Therefore, most of the buried inner bumpers are removed by making an external incision over the PEG site under local anaesthesia or at laparotomy. These approaches can be associated with pain, wound infection, or a gastrocutaneous fistula. Technique A new method to facilitate the removal of a PEG tube, where the inner bumper is buried in the gastric mucosa, is described. A length of ureteric catheter, or similar tube, is passed through the shortened external PEG tube into the gastric cavity and is then tied to the tube above the skin. The intragastric part of that tube helps to identify the site of the buried bumper and is then trapped within an endoscopic snare. Traction is then applied to the snare, inverting the tube and dislodging the bumper with minimum disruption to the stomach wall. This avoids the need for repair and allows for immediate reinsertion of a fresh PEG tube. Conclusions A PEG tube in a patient with buried bumper syndrome can be safely removed endoscopically, without a skin incision or gastric wall disruption. A novel, simple, and safe endoscopic removal technique is described. Presented as a poster at the 13th meeting of the EAES, Venice, Italy, June 2005     

Stomal seeding of head and neck cancer by percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement

Background: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes have replaced nasogastric tubes and Stamm gastrostomy tubes as a preferred means of feeding for patients with head and neck cancers, as recommended by the results of large series. A patient with stomal seeding of squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract by PEG placement was reported. A review of literature was performed. Methods: A Medline search of implantation of squamous cell carcinoma from the upper aerodigestive tract to PEG exit site since the introduction of PEG was performed. Results: Two reports of implantation of squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract to PEG exit site were found. Both patients and our patient were staged T4. Conclusions: Implantation of squamous cell carcinoma from the upper aerodigestive tract to the PEG exit site is a rare and late complication. Its prevalence is not known. For patients with a significant amount of squamous cell carcinoma in the upper aerodigestive tract, we recommend Stamm gastrostomy over PEG insertion by the pull technique. There is no report of such late complication by the push technique.     

Percutaneous gastric tube placement: Comparison of trans-abdominal and trans-oral approach in patients with chronic ascites

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to compare the trans-abdominal (TA) and trans-oral (TO) approaches for fluoroscopic-guided gastrostomy tube placement in patients with chronic ascites.

Early increase in intestinal permeability in patients with severe acute pancreatitis: Correlation with endotoxemia, organ failure, and mortality

Sepsis accounts for 80% of deaths from acute pancreatitis. This study aimed to investigate early changes in intestinal permeability in patients with acute pancreatitis, and to correlate these changes with subsequent disease severity and endotoxemia. The renal excretion of enterally administered polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350 and PEG 400 was measured within 72 hours of onset of acute pancreatitis to determine intestinal permeability. Severity was assessed on the basis of APACHE II scores and C-reactive protein measurements. Serum endotoxin and antiendotoxin antibodies were measured on admission. Eight-five patients with acute pancreatitis (mild in 56, severe in 29) and 25 healthy control subjects were studied. Urinary excretion of PEG 3350 (median) was significantly greater in patients who had severe attacks (0.61%) compared to those with mild disease (0.09%) and health control subjects (0.12%) (P <0.0001), as was the permeability index (PEG 3350/400 excretion) (P <0.00001). The permeability index was significantly greater in patients who subsequently developed multiple organ system failure and/or died compared with other severe cases (0.16 vs. 0.04) (P = 0.0005). The excretion of PEG 3350 correlated strongly with endotoxemia (r = 0.8; P = 0.002). Early increased intestinal permeability may play an important role in the pathophysiology of severe acute pancreatitis. Therapies that aim to restore intestinal barrier function may improve outcome. Presented at the Thirty-Ninth Annual Meeting of The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, New Orleans, La., May 17–20, 1998.     

Single site laparoscopic gastrostomy with a 4-mm bronchoscopic optical grasper

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a common technique for gastrostomy placement. However, certain children may not be candidates for PEG, such as those with craniofacial or foregut anomalies and prior surgery. Laparoscopic gastrostomy has also gained popularity, but this requires 2 or 3 trocar sites. The use of a larger single operating laparoscope or multiple-port laparoscopic techniques may not be practical in small children and infants. We describe a simple technique for gastrostomy tube placement in infants using a 4-mm operative bronchoscope.A 1.4-kg infant with a cleft palate and hypotonia underwent general anesthesia. A 5-mm laparoscopic port was placed in the left upper quadrant at the site of the intended gastrostomy. Following pneumoperitoneum, a 4-mm bronchoscopic optical grasper was inserted into the abdomen via the single port. The stomach was grasped and pulled out through the port site. The extracorporeal portion of stomach was matured as a gastrostomy. A low-profile gastrostomy button was placed.Proper position of the gastrostomy device was verified intraoperatively using dye. At 2 months follow-up, the child and gastrostomy are without complication.This technique is minimally invasive and provides direct visualization through one 5-mm abdominal port without the requirement of endoscopy and blind percutaneous entrance into the abdominal cavity. This single-site laparoscopic gastrostomy may be a practical alternative for infants who may not be candidates for PEG or larger single-port operating systems.     

牛血清清蛋白在聚乙二醇—无机盐体系中的分配特性

采用3种聚乙二醇-无机盐双水相体系，即聚乙二醇-硫酸盐、聚乙二醇-柠檬酸盐、聚乙二醇-磷酸盐双水相体系，研究成相浓度、起始牛血清清蛋白总浓度、外加有机溶剂及外加盐对牛血清清蛋白分配特性的影响.对聚乙二醇-硫酸盐体系，改变起始牛血清清蛋白的总浓度，得到平衡时上、下相牛血清清蛋白浓度随起始牛血清清蛋白总浓度变化的曲线方程，上相宜用“饱和型”方程表示，下相适合用线性方程表示，分配系数K的表达式与实验数据拟合较好.     

The Cambridge experience with buried bumpers

Aim

Buried Bumper (BB) is a complication of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) that leads to tube dysfunction and major morbidity. Although many techniques have been described to manage BB, none are universally adopted, and laparotomy remains the mainstay. We introduce a novel endoscopic technique in paediatric surgery that avoids laparotomy.

Laparoscopic-Assisted Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Combined with CT-GC

Purpose: Despite the widespread use of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes, their placement may be associated with a variety of complications, including gastrocolic fistula. Materials and Methods: In total, seven high-risk individuals diagnosed using computed tomography (CT)-gastrocolonography (GC) underwent laparoscopic-assisted PEG (LAPEG) placement. Study endpoints included the success of LAPEG under local anesthetic and intravenous sedation, inability to thread the PEG tube, the eventual tube location, the number of tube adjustments needed, adverse events, the operating time, and PEG tube-related infection. Results: In total, 135 PEG procedures were performed during this study. Successful CT-GC was achieved in all 135 patients, and we successfully used a standard PEG technique to place the gastrostomy tube in 128 patients (95%). In seven patients (5%), the LAPEG technique was used because the transverse colon became interposed between the abdominal wall and the anterior wall of the stomach. LAPEG procedure-related minor complications were observed in two patients. Conclusions: LAPEG combined with CT-GC can be used for patients with difficult anatomical orientations and may minimize the risk of complications in PEG placement.     

Univent管和双腔管用于单肺通气的比较

单肺通气可通过双腔支气管导管(double-lumentube,DLT)技术和支气管阻塞技术来实现。DLT在临床上使用最普遍,但DLT的有效管腔小、病人术后不易耐受而常需换管、声门暴露不佳者插管困难及没有小儿的型号等缺点,使其使用范围受到限制。带扭力控制阻塞装置(torque control blocker     

呼气相配合旋转置管法应用于颅脑损伤患者鼻胃管置管

目的探讨呼气相配合旋转置管法在颅脑损伤鼻胃管置管中的临床效果。方法将84例颅脑损伤患者按随机数字表法分成观察组与对照组,每组42例。对照组采用常规胃管置入法,观察组采用呼气相配合旋转置管法。比较两组置管成功率、置管并发症、心率及氧饱和度变化。结果观察组一次置管成功率、总成功率显著高于对照组,首次置管耗时显著短于对照组(P0.05,P0.01)。置管不良反应总发生率显著低于对照组(P0.01);置管前后观察组心率、血氧饱和度波动显著少于对照组(P0.05,P0.01)。结论呼气相配合旋转置管法应用于颅脑损伤手术患者鼻胃管置管优于常规置胃管法。