Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (cont.)
How is percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy done?
Local anesthesia (usually
lidocaine or another spray) is used to anesthetize the throat. An endoscope (a flexible tube with a camera and a light on the end)
is passed through the mouth, throat and esophagus into the stomach. The
physician then makes a small incision (cut) in the skin of the abdomen over the
stomach and pushes a needle through the skin and into the stomach. The tube for
feeding then is pushed through the needle and into the stomach. The tube then is
sutured (tied) in place to the skin.
When can the percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy patient go home?
The patient usually can go home the same day or the next morning.
What are the possible complications with percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy?
Possible complications include infection of the puncture site (as in any kind
of surgery,) dislodgement of the tube with leakage of the liquid diet that is fed
through the tube into the abdomen, and clogging of the tube.
What are the advantages of percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy?
Percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy takes less time, carries less risk and
costs less than a surgical gastrostomy which requires opening the abdomen.
Percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy is a commonly-performed so there are many
physicians with experience in performing the procedure. When feasible,
percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy is preferable to a surgical gastrostomy.
Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy At A Glance
- Percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy is a procedure that
allows nutritional support for patients who cannot take food orally.
Percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy involves placement of a tube through the
abdominal wall and into the
stomach through which nutritional liquids can be infused.
- Percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy is a surgical procedure; however, it
does not require opening the abdomen or an operating room. Percutaneous
endoscopic gastronomy also does not require general anesthesia.
- Complications of percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy include infection,
leakage of nutritional liquids that are infused and clogging of the tube.
- Percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy is preferable to surgical gastrostomy
Last Editorial Review: 2/16/2009
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