Complications of PEG Are Not Related to Age - The Result of 10-year Multicenter Survey

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze whether the insertion of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) during infancy is related to higher morbidity. Moreover, we analyzed the structure of indications to PEG placement in various age groups of pediatric patients.

Material/methods: The study involved medical data of children after PEG insertion from six Polish endoscopic centers: infants (<12 months of age), toddlers (12-36 months), and preadolescents (>36 months).

Results: The overall prevalence of early complications associated with PEG insertion was 5.14%; while they were noted in infants and preadolescents, none were recorded in toddlers. The analyzed age groups did not differ significantly in terms of the prevalence of late complications. Cerebral palsy (34.86%) and other chronic neurological conditions (34.29%) were the most frequent indications to PEG insertion in the whole group. Patients with congenital heart defects and multiple defect syndrome were inserted PEG at the youngest age; in contrast, the age at insertion was the highest in cystic fibrosis patients.

Conclusions: The early qualification to nutritional intervention via endoscopically formed gastrostomy can have important clinical implications with regards to improved therapeutic outcomes and reduced morbidity rates.