The complications of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

First paragraph (this article has no abstract)

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) has become the primary procedure for the long-term nutrition of patients with swallowing disorders. It has been shown to be an effective method with a lower complication rate than surgical placement [1]. It can be performed in the intensive care unit, but complications may occasionally occur. The estimated incidence of major complications is 8% [2]. Abscess and wound infections are the most frequent complications, but necrotizing fasciitis, colon or small bowel injuries, gastrocolic fistula, duodenal hematoma, liver injury, gastric perforation, and catheter migration have also been described [3]. Unexpectedly, acute hemorrhage following PEG is rarely reported. In the literature, we found only one case report of a fatal retroperitoneal hemorrhage occurring 2 hours after a PEG [4]. In a series of 263 cases, Schurink and colleagues [2] described only two cases of intra-abdominal bleeding.