Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG)

Patients who have difficulty or inability to swallow, anorexia or inability to take adequate nutrition through the mouth can benefit from this procedure.  PEG entails the placement of a flexible feeding tube through the abdominal wall and into the stomach under endoscopic guidance. PEG allows nutrition, fluids and/or medications to be administered directly into the stomach.  The following list represents the most common complications associated with PEG:

          Minor Complications

• Wound infection
• Leakage around the tube
• Bleeding
• Ulceration
• Clogging

          Major Complications

• Necrotizing fasciitis
• Bowel perforation

         
Examples of possible medical negligence:

• The most serious and life threatening complication of PEG is necrotizing fasciitis.  Delay in diagnosis and treatment of this condition may result in tissue necrosis (death of tissue), sepsis, and death.  Thus failure to diagnose and treat necrotizing fasciitis in a timely manner would constitute deviation from the standard of care.
• Another complication of PEG placement is injury or perforation to underlying small bowel or colon.  Failure to recognize and delay in treatment may result in sepsis and death.  While this injury in itself is not necessarily medical negligence, failure to diagnose and treat perforation in a timely manner may constitute deviation from the standard of care.