Evaluation of factors relating with early period complications that develop following application of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the method which is preferred for nutrition in patients who need long-term enteral nutrition. In this procedure which seems to be simple technically, complications which can form following the process can give rise to serious results. In this study, it has been aimed to examine the factors relating with complications observed in early period following PEG process.
METHODS: Patients who underwent PEG process in our clinic between years of 2014 and 2020 are included in the study. Patients are divided into two groups within the first period of 30 days depending on whether complication has developed or not. Factors that could be related with complications in groups and long-term results in patients relating with whom complications developed are analyzed retrospectively.
RESULTS: One hundred and six patients were included in our study. In the group with early complications, long-term complications (30.8% vs. 6.3% p=0.001), catheter dysfunction (19.2% vs. 3.8% p=0.009), and withdrawal of the PEG tube (11.5% vs. 0% p=0.002) were found to be more frequent at a significant level statistically.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: None of the parameters evaluated in our study alone were associated with PEG complications. In patients with early PEG complications, the rate of complications, catheter dysfunction, and withdrawal of the PEG catheter increased in the long term. Prevention of early complications in patients with PEG can increase the quality of life of patients by preventing complications that may occur in the long term, while also reducing hospital costs.