Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy ( PEG ) is the surgical procedure by which an opening is created on the stomach and subsequently on the abdomen, in order to insert a tube (or tube ) for artificial nutrition .
In fact, the tube is made to be connected to bags containing the basic foods that a human being needs.
Practiced when an individual is unable to feed in a traditional manner, the PEG is contraindicated in the presence of certain conditions, such as:
- Stenosis of the esophagus or inability to reach the lumen (ie the inside) of the stomach with the endoscope. During the PEG, the use of the endoscope represents a passage of fundamental importance.
- Severe coagulopathies, or diseases due to which the coagulation mechanism of blood is altered.
- Peritonitis
- Massive ascites
- Intestinal obstruction, unless the purpose of the PEG is to empty the stomach (rare case).
- Inability to put the stomach wall in contact with the abdominal wall . This could occur following a partial or total removal of the stomach (gastrectomy).
- Serious obesity, as it is difficult to identify the exact point where to drill for the insertion of the tube.
- Severe gastroesophageal reflux
- Portal hypertension following the presence of gastroesophageal varices .
- Intra-abdominal neoplasms involving the peritoneum.
