Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy to set up a long-term enteral feeding route in children: an encouraging result.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is now accepted as the preferred technique to establish long-term enteral feeding. A total of 30 pediatric patients (21 males and 9 females, aged from 5 months to 14 years) underwent PEG in the National Taiwan University Hospital from December 1994 to February 2001. The underlying diseases of the patients receiving PEG were neurological dysfunction ( n=26), gastrointestinal disease ( n=2) and metabolic disorders ( n=2). All patients received intravenous sedation and PEG was performed successfully. Prophylactic antibiotic treatment was given for 1 day. Tube feeding began 48 h after the placement. The Z-score of weight before and 6 months after PEG was -1.54+/-1.74 and -0.98+/-1.46, respectively, which is significant (paired t-test, p<0.0001). Accelerated weight gain was found after PEG. Complications of PEG in our patients included local wound infection ( n=15), gastrocolic fistula ( n=1), pneumoperitoneum ( n=1), dislodgement of tube ( n=6) and tube occlusion ( n=2). Of these patients 12 received button replacement after PEG and the gastrostomy tube was discontinued in 2 patients when they resumed adequate oral intake. Removal of PEG was performed in 2 patients due to complications of gastrocolic fistula and severe dislodgement. Our results encourage the use of PEG as a long-term route for nutritional supply.