Percutaneous Gastrojejunostomy under Fluoroscopic Guidance: Results from a Single Center in a Cohort of 23 Consecutive Patients

Introduction: to retrospectively investigate technical success, clinical success, complication rate, tube patency and 30-day mortality in a population of patients receiving percutaneous gastro-jejuonostomy (PGJ) under fluoroscopic guidance. Method: Institutional review board was obtained for the present study. Twenty-three patients (11 male, 12 female; mean age 68.3 years, range 37-95 years) were included. Descriptive statistics was used to investigate all variables and tube patency was investigated with Kaplan-Myer plot during a 4-month period. Results: Twenty-three PGJs were placed during a 3-year period in 23 consecutive patients. Technical success for PGJ first placement was reached in 22 patients (95.6%). PGJ exchange was always successful. Clinical success was always reached (100%) after each single procedure. We registered two cases of major complications consistent with bleeding requiring interventions. Minor complications encountered during follow-up were tube clogging and superficial stomal infection. Four-months tube patency was 76.5%. Overall 30-day mortality was 17.4% and 30-day PGJ related mortality was 0%. Conclusion: PGJ under fluoroscopic guidance is a safe and effective procedure with high rates of technical and clinical success coupled to low rates of complications and mortality.