Laparoscopic-Assisted Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Reduces Major Complications in High-Risk Pediatric Patients

Safety of a gastropexy device in infants and young children in percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement

In our practice, there is a growing need to perform gastrostomy tube placement in infants and young children with feeding difficulties. To avoid possible complications arising from pull-through method (pull-through PEG) we began to perform a one-step endoscopic gastrostomy with a gastropexy device (push GT). This study aimed to evaluate the safety of this technique in infants and young children. In our study, 60 pull-through PEG and push GT procedures were retrospectively analysed in patients between 2.83 and 8.6 kg. We analysed the adverse events in both groups. Age, sex, weight, diagnosis, early (occurring ≤ 7 days after the procedure) and late (occurring > 7 days after the procedure) complications were compared in the two groups. Median follow-up duration was 12 months. Early minor complications occurred only in the push GT group, but this was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding early major complications. Late minor complications were significantly more common in the push GT group. There were no late major complications in the push GT group, which is statistically significant. In infants and young children, push GT with a gastropexy device is a safe method to perform gastrostomy even in patients unsuitable for pull-through PEG placement.

Strategy of reduced port gastrostomy as a safe procedure for paediatric patients

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic gastrostomy has improved surgical and cosmetic outcomes. Our approach involves a strategy of reduced port surgery, wherein only the umbilicus and tube insertion site were incised, with an additional port inserted if manipulation is difficult. This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of our reduced port gastrostomy strategy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The paediatric patients who underwent gastrostomy at our institution from July 2013 to March 2023 were reviewed retrospectively. Surgical outcomes were compared between patients who underwent reduced port gastrostomy and those who underwent multiport gastrostomy with or without fundoplication.

RESULTS

Of the 78 patients who underwent gastrostomy, 25 and 39 patients who underwent reduced port gastrostomy and multiport gastrostomy with or without fundoplication, respectively, were included. Five patients who underwent reduced port gastrostomy required an additional port. The operative time during gastrostomy was shorter in the multiport gastrostomy group (21.3 min vs. 17.2 min, P = 0.00). One splenic injury in the reduced port gastrostomy group and one split of the stomach in the multiport gastrostomy group occurred and were completely repaired intraoperatively. No patient required reoperation within 30 days after gastrostomy. Post-operative complications, such as infection with pus (1 vs. 2, P = 1.00), external leakage requiring nutritional management change or tube replacement (2 vs. 2, P = 0.64) and tube dislodgement (1 vs. 0, P = 0.39), were similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The strategy of reduced port gastrostomy was safe and cosmetically favourable compared with multiport gastrostomy.

Pediatric laparoscopic versus percutaneous gastrostomy tube placement: a single-center review

BACKGROUND

The optimal technique for gastrostomy tube (GT) placement in pediatric patients remains controversial. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) was the preferred approach over open gastrostomy. With the advent of laparoscopy, many advocate for laparoscopic (LAP) placement to avoid potential visceral injury. Additionally, PEG patients may undergo an additional procedure for conversion to a low-profile button. We sought to compare outcomes including complications, need for subsequent procedures, and anesthesia exposure in LAP vs. PEG patients.

METHODS

Patients (ages 0-18) who underwent GT placement at our pediatric healthcare system between 2018 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were excluded if they underwent fundoplication, gastro-jejunostomy tube placement, open placement, tube placement in concurrence with other intestinal procedures, or failed primary attempt at gastrostomy placement. Data related to demographics and GT placement were recorded. Our primary outcomes were complications, need for subsequent procedures, discrete anesthesia exposures, and cumulative anesthesia exposure. The Wilcoxon rank sum test, Pearson's Chi-squared test, and Fisher's exact test were used to compare characteristics and clinical measurements between PEG and LAP patients.

RESULTS

Six hundred and eighty-eight (688) patients underwent GT placement during the study period, 234 (34.0%) LAP and 454 (66.0%) PEG. LAP patients were younger and weighed less than PEG patients (p = 0.005 and p = 0.002, respectively). Gender distribution, primary insurance status, and ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) classification were similar. Within the group excluded, 5 failed PEG placements, while 0 failed LAP GT attempts (p = 0.173). Major complication rates were comparable (1.3% vs. 2.4%, p = 0.401); however, PEG patients were more likely to have skin erythema/local infection (p = 0.006). PEG patients tended toward undergoing subsequent procedures (10.9% vs. 6.5% for LAP, p = 0.061) such as GT revision or conversion to gastro-jejunostomy tube. Additionally, 60.5% of PEG patients required > 2 anesthesia events, most often due to exchange of PEG to a low-profile button, while 93.6% of LAP patients required only one (p < 0.001). Finally, the median total general anesthesia exposure for the PEG group was 75 min (IQR 53-97) and 79 (IQR 67-98) in the LAP group (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

PEG technique is associated with more discrete anesthesia exposures and may also require more subsequent operations related to its placement. However, at our institution, overall major complications are similar in both techniques, while PEG tubes are prone to skin erythema/local infection.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Retrospective Comparative Study, Level III.

Impact of Scoliosis Severity on Gastrostomy-Related Complications in Children

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine the relationship between scoliosis and risk of developing complications in patients who underwent gastrostomy.

METHODS

Patients who underwent percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) or surgical gastrostomy (SG) between 2012 and 2022 were included. Leakage, discharge, granuloma, and hyperemia were considered minor complications, while visceral injury, ileus, and re-do surgery were considered major complications. The degree of scoliosis was calculated using the Cobb angle. The SG and PEG groups were compared by evaluating the complications and their correlation with scoliosis.

RESULTS

A total of 104 patients with a mean age of 5.0 ± 5.3 were included; 58% of patients were treated with SG. Patients in the SG group were younger ( P < 0.001). Minor complications were significantly more common in the PEG group ( P = 0.018). There was no difference between the groups in terms of major complications ( P = 1.000). Scoliosis was observed in 32.7% of the patients (n = 34). In the SG group, no correlation was found between the Cobb angle and the frequency of minor ( P = 0.173) or major complications ( P = 0.305). There was no significant difference between the Cobb angles of patients with and without minor complications in the PEG group ( P = 0.478); the Cobb angles of patients with major complications (75°) were significantly higher than those without (36°) ( P = 0.030).

CONCLUSION

Gastrostomy is important for weight gain and nutritional needs of children. This study showed that the risk of complications in SGs did not correlate with the degree of scoliosis and that the risk of major complications in PEGs increased in patients with a high degree of scoliosis.

Nationwide Survey for Pediatric Gastrostomy Tube Placement in Korea

BACKGROUND

Various methods have been implemented for pediatric gastrostomy tube placement. We aimed to investigate the performance status of pediatric gastrostomy in South Korea and to present indications and appropriate methods for domestic situations.

METHODS

A survey was conducted among pediatric endoscopists who performed upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in Korea. The questionnaire consisted of 16 questions on gastrostomy performance status.

RESULTS

Among the 48 institutions where the survey was applied, 36 (75%) responded. Of the 36 institutions, gastrostomy was performed in 31 (86.1%). The departments in which gastrostomy was performed were pediatrics at 26 institutions (81.3%), surgery at 24 institutions (75.0%), internal medicine at 9 institutions (28.1%), and radiology at 7 institutions (21.9%). There were 18 institutions (66.7%) using the pull method for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and nine institutions (33.3%) using the push method. When performing gastrostomies, fundoplication procedures were performed in 19 institutions (61.3%), if deemed necessary. However, 12 institutions (38.7%) answered that gastrostomy was always implemented alone. Complications after gastrostomy included buried bumper syndrome, wound infection, leakage, tube migration, and incorrect opening site in the stomach, but the number of cases with complications was very small.

CONCLUSION

In Korea, a pediatric gastrostomy is implemented in various ways depending on the institution. Clinicians are concerned about choosing the most effective methods with fewer complications after the procedure. In our study, we reported only a few complications. Korea has good accessibility for pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy, and this survey showed that it is a safe procedure that can be considered initially in pediatric gastrostomy. This study is expected to help to create optimal pediatric PEG guidelines in Korea.