Melissa J. Neisen, M.D.

Closed for Enrollment

• Complications Associated with Primary Placement of Radiologically-Inserted Gastrostomy versus Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy for Feeding Rochester, Minn.

  The use of long-term enteral tube feeding has increased dramatically in the United States and worldwide. Radiologically-inserted gastrostomy (RIG) or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) are the most common techniques used for long term enteral feeding. Gastrostomy-related complications are classified as major (peritonitis, abscess, bleeding requiring intervention/transfusion, bowel perforation, death) or minor (superficial infection, skin erosion, bleeding not requiring intervention, exit site leakage or tube complication [occluded, malpositioned/dislodged, damaged]). Not many studies have compared the outcomes and major and minor complications associated with RIG versus PEG. The primary objectives of this study are to assess pain as well as major and minor complications with gastrostomy-tube placement, comparing RIG with PEG. The secondary objectives are to compare costs associated with each technique, to compare anesthesia type used with each technique, and to assess patient quality of life before and after the procedure.