PEG: what could go wrong? A case series of complications

Aims PEG are safe, cost-efficient and have a high rate of success (95%-100%). Usually minor complications occur, and proper technique of PEG placement and daily tube care are important preventive measures. Despite these, sometimes complications occur.

Methods Here we present 3 different types of complications.

Results First type of complication: knot formation in a jejunal tube after a PEG/J placement for Parkinson disease indication. Incidence is not well established, there are only some case reports in the literature. We report 3 cases with knot formation which were endoscopically managed. (figures attached).

Second type of complication: buried bumper syndrome. It is a rare complication with an incidence between 0.3%-2.4%. We report 2 cases which were finally surgically treated (figures attached).

Third complication: a rare buried bumper syndrome with the tube migrated in the colon. The tube was surgically removed from the colon (figures attached).

Conclusions PEG is one of the most common procedures performed by the gastroenterologist. Despite their overall safety, a number of complications can occur.

Conflicts of interest

Authors do not have any conflict of interest to disclose.

Publication History

Article published online:
14 April 2023