PERCUTANEOUS ENDOSCOPIC GASTROSTOMY: PLACEMENT, PERIOPERATIVE EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a beneficial treatment for patients with dysphagia and those having difficulty with oral nutrition ingestion. In addition, these patients may have poor general condition or serious underlying diseases such as cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory illness, and neurological disorder. Preoperative risk evaluation of patients who receive PEG is important to reduce minor, as well as major, adverse events. Based on this evaluation, the appropriate gastrostomy tube placement method (i.e., pull/push method or introducer method) and managing the perioperative period in advance should both be considered. In this article, the techniques for PEG and preoperative risk management are described.