When oral feeding cannot provide adequate nutritional support to children, enteral tube feeding becomes a necessity. The overall aim is to ultimately promote appropriate growth, improve the patient's quality of life and increase carer satisfaction. Nasogastric tube feeding is considered appropriate on a short-term basis. Alternatively, gastrostomy feeding offers a more convenient and safer feeding option especially as it does not require frequent replacements, and carries a lower risk of complications. Gastrostomy tube feeding should be considered when nasogastric tube feeding is required for more than 2-3 wk as per the ESPEN guidelines on artificial enteral nutrition. Several techniques can be used to insert gastrostomies in children including endoscopic, image guided and surgical gastrostomy insertion whether open or laparoscopic. Each technique has its own advantages and disadvantages. The timing of gastrostomy insertion, device choice and method of insertion is dependent on the local expertise, patient requirements and family preference, and should be individualized with a multidisciplinary team approach. We aim to review gastrostomy insertion in children including indications, contraindications, history of gastrostomy, insertion techniques and complications.

Laparoscopic gastrostomy tube (GT) placement carries the risk of early tube dislodgement and is often modified with absorbable subcutaneously-tunneled transabdominal tacking sutures that can aid in tube replacement. However, these buried sutures may increase the risk of surgical site infection (SSI). This study sought to evaluate SSI rates associated with different types of transabdominal tacking sutures used in modified laparoscopic GT placement.

A single-institution, retrospective review was performed of all patients ≤18 years-old undergoing modified laparoscopic GT placement between September 2016 and March 2020. Patients were stratified into three groups by suture type used, and the primary outcome was SSI within six weeks of surgery. Demographic and perioperative data were analyzed by chi-square or Fisher's exact test.

A total of 113 modified laparoscopic GT placements were performed at a median age of 9 months (interquartile range 3 months to 3 years). Prophylactic antibiotic use was similar between groups. Eleven patients (10%) developed an SSI, and all were treated with antibiotics alone. No SSIs were observed with the use of poliglecaprone suture (n = 46), and higher SSI rates were observed with use of polyglactin (n = 17) and polydioxanone (n = 51) suture (18% polyglactin vs. 16% polydioxanone vs. 0% poliglecaprone, p<0.05). No differences were observed in rates of early postoperative dislodgement, leakage, or granulation tissue.

Absorbable braided and long-lasting monofilament transabdominal tacking sutures may increase risk of SSI following modified laparoscopic gastrostomy tube placement. In this cohort, the use of poliglecaprone (Monocryl) suture was associated with no SSIs and similar rates of postoperative dislodgement, leakage, and granulation tissue.

Treatment Study, Level III.

Background: Gastrostomy is a widely used procedure that aims to obtain access to the stomach. Its purpose may be feeding or gastric decompression. Currently, the most common techniques are endoscopic and radiologic. Sometimes, these accesses are not available due to technical or patient-specific factors. In these cases, laparoscopic and percutaneous approaches combined could be an option. The aim of this study was to describe a laparoscopic-percutaneous combined gastrostomy procedure, feasibility, and complications. Materials and Methods: Retrospective descriptive observational study. All patients underwent laparoscopic-percutaneous combined gastrostomy required for feeding or decompressive gastrostomy. We analyzed variables: demographics, surgical indication, operation time, hospitalization stay, success, and morbidity/mortality associated to the procedure. Results: A total of n = 17 patients were recruited (58.8% women and 41.2% men), with mean age of 53. Regarding the indications of laparoscopic-percutaneous combined gastrostomy, 47% were due to upper gastrointestinal/head and neck tumor, 29.4% stomach location in a retrocostal position, 17.7% colonic interposition, and 5.9% acute gastric dilation of remnant after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The mean time of the procedure was 25 minutes, and mean hospitalization stay was 1.2 days. The success of the procedure was 100%. No complications and mortality associated with the procedure were reported. Conclusion: Laparoscopic-percutaneous combined gastrostomy is fast, feasible, safe, and cost effective. It is an option in patients where it is not possible to perform standard minimally invasive approaches.

Pediatric implants are a special subclass of a vast number of clinically used medical implants, uniquely designed to address the needs of young patients who are at the onset of their developmental growth stage. Given the vulnerability of the implant receiver, it is crucial that the implants manufactured for small children with birth-associated defects be given careful considerations and great attention to design detail to avoid postoperative complications. In this review, we focus on the most common types of medical implants manufactured for the treatment of birth defects originating from both genetic and environmental causes. Particular emphasis is devoted toward identifying the implant material of choice and manufacturing approaches for the fabrication of pediatric prostheses. Along this line, the emerging role of 3D printing to enable customized implants for infants with congenital disorders is presented, as well as the possible complications associated with prosthetic-related infections that is prevalent in using artificial implants for the treatment of birth malformations.

There are a variety of techniques for gastrostomy tube placement. Endoscopic and radiologic approaches have almost entirely superseded surgical placement. However, an aging population and significant advancements in modern healthcare have resulted in patients with increasingly complex medical issues or postsurgical anatomy. The rising prevalence of obesity has also created technical challenges for proceduralists of many specialties. When patients with these comorbidities develop the need for long-term enteral nutrition and feeding tube placement, standard approaches such as percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) by endoscopists and percutaneous image-guided gastrostomy (PIG) by interventional radiologists may be technically difficult or impossible. For these challenging situations, laparoscopic-assisted PEG (LAPEG) is an alternative option. LAPEG combines the advantages of PEG with direct intraperitoneal visualization, helping ensure a safe tube placement tract free of intervening organs or structures. In this review, we highlight some of the important factors of first-line gastrostomy techniques, with an emphasis on the utility and procedural technique of LAPEG when they are not feasible.

This study describes our experience with the placement of a skin-level gastrostomy device (MIC-KEY) in a single procedure.

We identified infants, children and young adults who underwent laparoscopic-assisted percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (LAPEG) tube insertion between October 2009 and June 2013. The steps of this procedure include upper endoscopy, single-port laparoscopy, gastropexy via percutaneous T-fasteners and placement of a skin-level gastrostomy device (MIC-KEY) using a "push" technique with a tear-away sheath.

We included 92 patients in our study. Mean age was 3.7 years (range 3 wk-5 yr), and mean weight was 11.2 (range 2.8-54) kg. Median procedural time was 20 (range 12-76) minutes. Total median duration for the most recent 25 procedures was lower than that of the first 25 (62 v. 79 min, p = 0.004). There were no intraoperative complications or conversions to open surgery. Postoperative complications were observed in 6 (6.5%) patients. Three retained T-fasteners were assessed endoscopically (n = 1) or removed via local excision (n = 2). Two patients experienced early dislodged feeding tubes that were replaced via interventional radiology (n = 1) or repeat LAPEG (n = 1). There was also 1 intra-abdominal fluid collection that was drained percutaneously but ultimately required a laparotomy and washout. There were no major complications in the most recent 50 procedures.

Our results suggest that LAPEG is a safe, minimally invasive procedure for infants, children and young adults. This approach allows for immediate use of a skin-level gastrostomy device without the need for postoperative tube exchanges.

To compare the outcomes and complications between percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), laparoscopic gastrostomy (LAPG) and open gastrostomy (OG) in children.

Retrospective review of 369 patients from July 1998 to December 2010 who had their gastrostomies inserted at a single tertiary paediatric institution. Patients who were lost in follow-up (59) and had insufficient data (23) were excluded from this study. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Of the 369 included in our study, 260 patients underwent LAPG, 86 PEG and 23 open gastrostomy (OG) procedures. The early complication rate for PEGs was 10.5 %, and for LAPGS 2.7 % (p = 0.006). The late complication rate was 41.9 % for PEGs and 43.1 % for LAPGs (p = NS). The overall complication rate for PEG was 54.7 % and it was 44.6 % for LAPG (p = NS). Major complications occurred only in the PEG group: gastro-colonic fistula (1), peritonitis (1), and "buried bumper syndrome" (1). The overall complication rate for OG was 78.3 % (p = 0.01, when this was compared to LAPGs and PEGs together), although there were no early complications in the OG group.

PEGs had a significantly higher early complication rate than LAPGs and the only major complications occurred in the PEG group. PEGs also had a higher overall complication rate than LAPGs, although the difference was not statistically significant. Both PEGs and LAPGs were significantly superior to OG in terms of overall complication rates.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a simplified catheter placement procedure for alimentation. Although the endoscopic approach to gastrostomy tube placement is a safe and well-tolerated procedure in most patients, the PEG procedure is difficult in elderly patients disabled since childhood who have severe scoliosis and malpositioning of the stomach. We describe a simple and effective laparoscopic-assisted PEG (LAPEG) technique that can be used for catheter placement in severely disabled patients.

Thirteen severely disabled patients aged 14-57 years underwent gastrostomy tube placement with the LAPEG technique. After general anesthesia was achieved, an endoscope was placed into the stomach. Then, a 5-mm camera port was inserted at the umbilicus, and a 3-mm working port was inserted to identify and lift the optimal site for gastrostomy tube placement. After the 4-point fixation of the stomach, the 20-Fr gastrostomy tube was placed under endoscopic and laparoscopic observation.

All patients tolerated the procedure well, and there were no major complications. The procedure was successful, and all patients could feed via the tube.

Elderly disabled patients who have been bedridden since childhood often have severe scoliosis and malpositioning of the stomach. Our LAPEG procedure is effective, well tolerated, and safe for gastrostomy tube placement in such elderly patients.

To determine whether laparoscopic-assisted gastrostomy (LAG) has superseded percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) based on the clinical outcomes.

A retrospective study was undertaken for the period January 06-December 09. Demographic and clinical outcomes were recorded and the two groups were compared.

164 patients were studied (PEG, n = 107; LAG, n = 57). 93.5 % of PEG patients required two general anaesthetics compared with 8 % of LAG patients. Median time to using the gastrostomy was 24 (range 0-168) h in PEG and 0 (0-96) h in LAG patients (p < 0.001). Major complications occurred in 15/107 (14 %) of PEG and 2/57 (3.5 %) of LAG patients (p = 0.05). Re-operation rate following complications was 18/107 (16.8 %) for PEG and 3/57 (5.2 %) for LAG (p = 0.05). Minor complications arose in 41/107 (38 %) of PEG and 32/57 (56 %) of LAG (p = 0.05). Post-operative hospital stay was 2 (1-40) days for PEG and 2 (0-20) days for LAG (p = 0.01). The day-case rate was 0/107 for PEG and 5/57 (9 %) for LAG. There was no gastrostomy-related mortality in the series.

LAG requires fewer anaesthetics, is associated with shorter time to feeding, shortened hospital stay and has a reduced risk of major complications. LAG is a very good alternative to the PEG in children.

The purpose of this study was to report the outcomes of our modified LEGT technique.

Charts of 26 children who underwent modified LEGT technique between May 2008 and February 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Their age ranged from 7 days to 16 years. Under general anesthesia, a gastroscope was placed in the stomach and laparoscopic visualization was obtained through a 5 mm umbilical port. Using laparoscopic and gastroscopic visualization, four 2'0' PDS 'T'-Fasteners were placed around a proposed gastrostomy site in the stomach. These sutures were pulled externally and tied subcutaneously so that nothing was visible outside. The gastrostomy button was then placed in the center of these four sutures at the proposed gastrostomy button site. Once the gastrostomy balloon was inflated, the four sutures were pulled taut and tied subcutaneously to pexy the stomach to the abdominal wall. Visualization with the gastroscope and laparoscope ensured proper gastrostomy button placement.

At a median follow-up of 9 months (range 10 days-2 years), none of the patients had major complications and only five had minor gastrostomy site infection which completely resolved after antibiotic therapy.

LEGT is a safe and effective technique for placement of primary G buttons/tubes in children. The laparoscopic visualization of the LEGT avoids accidental gastro-enteric fistula formation and allows primary placement of the gastrostomy button without need for subsequent procedures. LEGT ensures that the G-button is placed within the gastric lumen. Additionally, the four 'T'-Fastener technique gives optimal fixation of the stomach to the abdominal wall, avoids accidental disruption of sutures as they are placed subcutaneously and has no need for suture removal at a post-operative visit as in other techniques. Since there are no other ports used except the umbilicus this technique provides excellent cosmetic results.

The ASGE Technology Committee provides reviews of existing, new, or emerging endoscopic technologies that have an impact on the practice of GI endoscopy. Evidence-based methodology is used, performing a MEDLINE literature search to identify pertinent clinical studies on the topic and a MAUDE (U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Devices and Radiological Health) database search to identify the reported complications of a given technology. Both are supplemented by accessing the "related articles" feature of PubMed and by scrutinizing pertinent references cited by the identified studies. Controlled clinical trials are emphasized, but, in many cases, data from randomized, controlled trials are lacking. In such situations, large case series, preliminary clinical studies, and expert opinions are used. Technical data are gathered from traditional and Web-based publications, proprietary publications, and informal communications with pertinent vendors. Technology Status Evaluation Reports are drafted by 1 or 2 members of the ASGE Technology Committee, reviewed and edited by the committee as a whole, and approved by the ASGE Governing Board. When financial guidance is indicated, the most recent coding data and list prices at the time of publication are provided. For this review, the MEDLINE database was searched through August 2009 for articles related to endoscopy in patients requiring enteral feeding access by using the keywords "endoscopy," "percutaneous," "gastrostomy," "jejunostomy," "nasogastric," "nasoenteric," "nasojejunal," "transnasal," "feeding tube," "enteric," and "button." Technology Status Evaluation Reports are scientific reviews provided solely for educational and informational purposes. Technology Status Evaluation Reports are not rules and should not be construed as establishing a legal standard of care or as encouraging, advocating, requiring, or discouraging any particular treatment or payment for such treatment.