Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Techniques and Outcomes
Summary
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) has emerged as the principal method for long-term enteral nutrition in patients with impaired swallowing or inadequate oral intake. The procedure entails endoscopic visualisation of the gastric wall and placement of a feeding tube through the abdominal wall under minimal sedation. Over recent decades, refinements in tube-insertion techniques—such as introducer versus pull methods, gastropexy adjuncts and early feeding protocols—have been introduced to reduce procedure-related complications and optimise patient recovery. Common acute complications include peristomal infection, bleeding and tube dislodgement, while chronic issues range from tube obstruction to fistula formation. Predictive factors for adverse outcomes encompass patient age, comorbidities (notably malignancy and diabetes), inflammatory markers and nutritional status at the time of insertion. Advances in post-procedure care, including mobile health support tools and dedicated home-enteral nutrition teams, have demonstrated efficacy in enhancing self-care, reducing readmissions and improving quality of life. Collectively, these developments underscore the global significance of PEG as a safe, cost-effective route for sustained nutritional support across diverse clinical settings.
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Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Techniques and Outcomes publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy techniques and outcomes across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG): A minimally invasive procedure for placing a feeding tube directly into the stomach under endoscopic guidance to enable long-term enteral nutrition.
Enteral nutrition: Delivery of nutrients directly into the gastrointestinal tract, typically via a feeding tube, bypassing the oral route.
Dysphagia: Clinical condition characterised by difficulty in swallowing, often necessitating alternative feeding methods.
Peristomal infection: Infection occurring around the tube insertion site on the abdominal wall, a common early complication of PEG.
References
- Impact of Mobile Apps in Conjunction With Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy on Patients' Complications, Quality of Life, and Health-Related Self-Care Behaviors: Randomized Clinical Trial. JMIR mHealth and uHealth (2023).
- Early Tube Feeding after Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG): An Observational Study. Nutrients (2023).
- Risk factors for complications and mortality of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy insertion. BMC Gastroenterology (2018).
- Development and Evaluation of a Home Enteral Nutrition Team. Nutrients (2015).
- Mortality and complications after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: a retrospective multicentre study. BMC Gastroenterology (2022).
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