Laparoscopic Magnet-Assisted Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Placement

Abstract

There are various methods to place a gastrostomy tube. We report a laparoscopic method to place a standard percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube without the use of endoscopy. Laparoscopic magnet-assisted PEG placement was carried out using an orogastric tube attached with a magnet that is used to retrieve the PEG wire that has been percutaneously placed into the stomach. Four pediatric patients (mean age 31 months) underwent a PEG tube placement using the laparoscopic magnet-assisted PEG tube insertion technique during 2017. There were no immediate and long-term tube placement complications. Retrieval of the PEG wire using the magnet-tipped orogastric tube was successful in all patients. Laparoscopic magnet-assisted PEG tube placement allows precise PEG tube placement without the need for endoscopy.