Bowel intussusception caused by a percutaneously placed endoscopic gastrojejunostomy catheter: A case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND

In adults, bowel intussusception is a rare diagnosis and is mostly due to an organic bowel disorder. In rare cases, this is a complication of a percutaneously placed endoscopic gastro (jejunostomy) catheter.

CASE SUMMARY

We describe a case of a 73-year-old patient with a history of myocardial infarction, chronic idiopathic constipation and Parkinson’s disease. For the admission of his Parkinson’s medication, a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy with jejunal extension (PEG-J) was placed. The patient presented three times at the emergency department of the hospital with intermittent abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting. There were no distinctive abnormalities from the physical and laboratory examinations. An abdominal computed tomography scan showed a small bowel intussusception. By push endoscopy, a jejunal bezoar at the tip of the PEG-J catheter was found to be the cause of small bowel intussusception. The intussusception was resolved after removing the bezoar during push enteroscopy.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic treatment of bowel intussusception caused by PEG-J catheter bezoar.

Key Words: Bowel intussusception; Percutaneous endoscopic gastrojejunostomy; Bezoar; Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy; Case report

Core Tip: In patients with a proximal feeding catheter and complaints of acute or intermittent abdominal pain, intussusception must be considered. An abdominal computed tomography scan is recommended for additional investigation. If small bowel intussusception is present/suspected, we recommend first investigating the cause via gastroscopy/push enteroscopy and, if possible, treating it endoscopically immediately so that surgery can be prevented.

INTRODUCTION

If normal oral intake of food or medication is insufficient or poorly tolerated for a longer period of time, an endoscopically placed percutaneous gastric tube (PEG) can be considered. PEG can be extended to the jejunum (PEG-J) or placed directly in the jejunum (PEJ). These procedures are considered to be safe[1-3]. Common complications of a PEG are a clogged or dislocated PEG catheter, pain at the insertion site, infection and peristomal leakage. Severe complications are rare, including bleeding, perforation, buried bumper syndrome, necrotizing fasciitis and metastatic spread[1,2]. In this case, we describe proximal intussusception of the small intestine as a rare complication of a PEG-J catheter.

CASE PRESENTATION

Chief complaints

The patient was a 73-year-old man who visited the emergency care centre on three occasions in three weeks with intermittent epigastric and lower thoracic pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

History of present illness

At the first two presentations, no clear leads were found in anamnesis, physical examination or exploratory additional examinations. No abnormalities were found on point-of-care ultrasound of the abdominal wall or abdomen. Additionally, no anomaly of the PEG-J catheter was found. There were no signs of myocardial ischaemia, as indicated by a normal electrocardiogram (ECG) and troponins. Gastroscopy showed candida oesophagitis, for which fluconazole was prescribed. Due to chronic constipation, laxatives were also started. During the last presentation, the stool pattern had improved, and defecation was daily and of normal consistency.

History of past illness

The patient had a history of myocardial infarction, chronic idiopathic constipation and Parkinson’s disease. PEG-J (AbbVie PEG 15 Fr; J extension 9 Fr) was placed 1.5 years ago for the administration of Parkinson medication (levodopa/carbidopa).

Personal and family history

The patient has no personal and family history.

Physical examination

On physical examination, the patient was damp and sweaty, with normal vitals: Heart rate (67/min), blood pressure (141/80 mmHg) and temperature (36.6 °C). Auscultation of the heart and lungs showed a regular heart rhythm without murmur and clear lung sounds. During abdominal examination, sparse, normal-sounding peristalsis was heard. Palpation gave severe pressure pain in the upper left abdomen and in the epigastrio, without rebound pain. No rigidity or guarding was observed. The insertion of the PEG catheter appeared normal without redness, bleeding or hard subcutaneous swelling. PEG-J was open and well situated against the abdominal wall and easy to submerge and reapply.

Laboratory examinations

The laboratory examinations showed (normal values in parentheses) mildly elevated C-reactive protein of 39 mg/L (< 5), normal lipase of 14 U/L (< 60) and a stable troponin-T of 16 ng/L compared to three days prior (< 14). Renal and liver function were normal. Remarkably, an elevated creatine kinase of 366 U/L (< 200) and a mildly elevated lactate of 2.2 mmol/L (0.5-1.6) were detected. The ECG showed a sinus rhythm of 68/min, with no ST-T abnormalities.

Imaging examinations

In the differential diagnosis of peptic/duodenal ulcer disease, cholecystitis, perforation, constipation due to bowel mobility problems in Parkinson’s disease, intestinal ischaemia and a complication of PEG-J were considered. Due to these considerations, abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans were performed with intravenous contrast in the arterial and portal venous phases (Figure 1), which showed intussusception at the duodenojejunal junction. There was no evident leadpoint for intussusception, and the intestinal loops proximal to intussusception were not dilated.

Figure 1 Abdominal computed tomography scan with intravenous contrast in the arterial and portal venous phases of a 73-year-old man with intussusception at the duodenojejunal junction. A: The transverse section shows a ‘target sign’; B: The sagittal section shows a ‘sausage sign’.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS

Small bowel intussusception.

TREATMENT

Proximal push enteroscopy was performed on suspicion of an intussusception possibly caused by PEG-J, a malignant or benign tumor. The button of the PEG was not situated against the stomach wall, and there was traction at the jejunum extension (Figure 2A). A lumen-filling bezoar, i.e., a stony mass, was found in the small intestine at the distal part of the jejunum extension. The bezoar was reduced endoscopically, after which the jejunal extension luxated and returned to the stomach with the remnant of the bezoar (Figure 2B). The jejunum extension was replaced, and the patient was discharged in good condition.

Figure 2 Push enteroscopy: In a 73-year-old man with intussusception. A: Showing a view of the stomach. Due to traction at the jejunal extension, the button of the percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy catheter was not situated against the stomach wall; B: Showing the luxated jejunum extension with remnant bezoar after endoscopic reduction.

OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP

On the first outpatient revision, the patient had no complaints.

DISCUSSION

Bowel intussusception, in which a part of the intestine slides into the next part of the intestine (“telescoping”), is rare in adults. In adults, 1%-5% of intestinal obstructions are caused by intussusception. Most cases (90%) are due to an organic condition, such as inflammatory bowel disease, postoperative adhesions, (Meckel’s) diverticula, polyps or carcinoma. An iatrogenic factor is sometimes the cause of intussusception, such as after bariatric surgery or in the presence of intestinal feeding probes[4].

The use of PEG catheters is increasing in popularity because it is considered to be a safe method for the administration of nutrition and medication[1]. Severe complications of a PEG-J catheter are rare, and few case reports have described intussusception after the placement of PEG catheters (PEG/PEG-J/PEJ)[5-8]. Only one similar case has been described in the literature, in which a bezoar was attached to the distal end of a jejunum extension of a PEG[5]. The most likely mechanism causing intussusception in our case was the formation of a bezoar at the jejunum extension and the migration of this bezoar distally through the small intestine by intestinal peristalsis. This served as a lead point, causing intussusception.

Symptoms of intussusception in adults are often nonspecific and can be both acute or chronic. The most common symptom is abdominal pain. Other complaints include nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal distension and constipation[4,9]. Other PEG complications that can cause similar nonspecific symptoms include, i.e., malpositioning of the PEG, gastric/bowel perforation, or migration of the PEG catheter balloon into the pylorus or duodenum[1,10,11].

If a complication of PEG is suspected, a CT scan should be considered to differentiate between the complications of PEG. In adults, a CT abdomen is preferred in the diagnosis of intussusception because of its 90%-100% accuracy. A “target sign”, “sausage sign” or oedematous wall thickening will be observed. Comparatively, ultrasounds have an accuracy of 50%-60%, while X-rays are not sensitive[9,12]. As intussusception in adults is often caused by organic abnormalities, surgery is the most common intervention[12].

Our case illustrates that PEG can be complicated by proximal intussusception of the small intestine. Our advice is to perform imaging for intussusception when a patient with a PEG catheter has acute or intermittent abdominal pain. In addition, when intussusception is diagnosed, a patient should first undergo endoscopic exploration while being treated, if possible, to avoid more invasive surgical treatment.

CONCLUSION

Intussusception is a rare complication of a PEG catheter, with nonspecific clinical presentation. In patients with a PEG catheter complaining of acute or chronic abdominal pain with nausea, vomiting or obstipation, intussusception should be considered. The most accurate diagnostic tool is a CT scan. In cases of intussusception of the small intestine, we recommend immediately exploring and if possible, treating the intussusception endoscopically, to prevent surgical intervention.