Safety and Efficacy of Bedside Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Placement in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to describe the safety and efficacy of bedside percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement in a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on 106 infants with a birthweight ≤6 kg receiving bedside PEG placement at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital between 2007 and 2013. Preprocedure, postprocedure, and demographic data were collected. The main safety outcome was postprocedure complication rate and the main efficacy outcome was time to initiate feeds and time on respiratory support.

RESULTS: The mean birth weight and mean gestational age of our population at the time of procedure were 2.2 kg and 33 weeks, respectively. There were 9 total complications (8.5%) with major complications being only 2 (1.8%). There were no instances of blood stream infections. The mean length of time to initiate feeds was 1.2 days (standard deviation [SD] = 1.2). Ninety-three percent of patients were extubated within 24 hours.

CONCLUSIONS: Bedside PEG placement is safe with minimal complications. It is associated with little need for ventilator support and allows for early re-initiation of feeds and early success at reaching goal feedings.