Catheter traction and gastric outlet obstruction: a repeated complication of using a Foley catheter for gastrostomy tube replacement

Nutr Hosp. 2017 Mar 30;34(2):499-501. doi: 10.20960/nh.693.

Abstract

Background: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a safe procedure and major morbidity is unusual. However, the number of PEG fed patients is increasing all over the world and complications may become more and more frequent.

Case report: We describe a 73 years old woman with persistent vomit after replacement of the standard PEG tube with a Foley catheter. An upper GI endoscopy showed the catheter pulled into the duodenum causing gastric outlet obstruction. It was removed and replaced by a suitable standard PEG tube, allowing PEG feeding to be resumed.

Discussion: Previous reports pointed the risk of this complication, almost always associated with insertion of a Foley-type catheter. Replacement of PEG tubes should be performed by experienced teams using standard PEG tubes and the use of Foley-type catheters for this purpose should be banned from routine practice.

Keywords: Gastrostomy. Foley catheter. Enteral nutrition. Complications..

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Catheters / adverse effects*
  • Device Removal
  • Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal
  • Enteral Nutrition / methods
  • Female
  • Gastric Outlet Obstruction / etiology*
  • Gastrostomy / adverse effects*
  • Gastrostomy / instrumentation*
  • Humans
  • Intubation, Gastrointestinal / adverse effects*
  • Intubation, Gastrointestinal / instrumentation*