Experience with wide and narrow caliber percutaneous radiologically guided gastrostomy tubes

Objective: to compare the percutaneous radiologically guided gastrostomy (perg) tubes of wide caliber with narrow caliber tubes. methodology: this retrospective study was performed on 36 patients who were referred to radiology department for perg tube placement between 2008 till 2012. comparison of wide caliber gastrostomy tubes (18-24 fr) was done with narrow caliber tubes (14 fr) considering procedure success rate,procedure related complications and catheter related minor and major complications. results: out of 36 patients,18 patients were present in each group. mean age of patients was 53.944 ±19.380. procedure success rate was 100 % in both groups and procedure related immediate complications were none in either groups. peri-catheter leakage was observed in 1 patient in each group. tube occlusion was present in 2 patients in narrow caliber group. two patients had severe pain in wide caliber group and also 3 patients had wound infection in this group. conclusion: regardless of the type of radiologic catheter placed,perg can be considered as safe and highly successful procedure. use of a 24 fr gastrostomy tubes may show promising results if placed under radiological guidance with comparable technical success and complication rates to other caliber tubes. © 2016,postgraduate medical institute. all rights reserved.