Percutaneous gastrostomy for enteral nutrition: long-term follow-up of 176procedures

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous gastrostomy (PG), using small catheters without gastropexy, to deliver enteral nutritio n. Methods: We reviewed the records of 176 consecutive patients in whom PC was attempted for enteral nutrition. Of these cases, 172 catheters were ins erted by the Seldinger technique under fluoroscopic guidance alone, 2 were inserted under computed tomographic guidance, and 2 procedures failed. In p rimary procedures, 8.5- or 10.2-French catheters were used. Results: The te chnical success rate was 98.9%. Of the 176 procedures, 2 failed because of the high position of the stomach. Seven-day follow-up was obtained in all p atients; 30-day follow-up in 145 patients (83%), and longterm follow-up (30 to 1512 days) in 123 patients (70%). The 30-day mortality rate was 13.2%. One death (0.5%) was directly related to the procedure. Major complications occurred in 4 patients (2.2%), and minor complications in 12 patients (6.9 %). No patient required surgery for complications attributable to the gastr ostomy procedure. Conclusion: PG without gastropexy using small catheters i s a simple, safe and effective technique for delivering enteral nutrition.