COMPLICATIONS WITH NON-ENDOSCOPIC PERCUTANEOUS GASTROSTOMY IN 31 CATSAND 10 DOGS - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Percutaneous gastrostomy tubes were placed non-endoscopically in 31 ca ts and 10 dogs using either a rigid insertion tube (n=13) or an Eld ga strostomy tube applicator (n=28). Tubes were placed successfully in 38 of the 41 animals and the consequent feeding was of therapeutic benef it to 31 of the animals. Six of 41 died or were euthanased for reasons unrelated to gastrostomy. In four cases (10 per cent), gastrostomy fa iled with respect to correct tube placement or tube feeding. Overall c omplications occurred in 18 of 41 animals. Severe procedural complicat ions occurred in two cats; a cardiorespiratory arrest during pharyngea l manipulation and erroneous tube placement through the distal oesopha gus. Moderate late complications included peristomal food leakage (n=2 ), peristomal abscess (n=2) and pyloric outflow obstruction by a migra ted tube (n=1). Complications associated with the feeding procedure, n ausea and vomiting (n=3), led to aspiration pneumonia in one case.