Double-blind randomized clinical trial of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy versus radiologically inserted gastrostomy in children.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this RCT was to determine whether radiologically inserted gastrostomy (RIG) in children is associated with more complications than percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG).

METHODS

Children at a single tertiary children's hospital requiring a primary gastrostomy were randomized to PEG or RIG. Patients were followed by assessors blinded to the insertion method. Complications were recorded, assigned a severity score, and analysed by zero-inflated Poisson regression analysis on an intention-to-treat basis, adjusting for length of follow-up.

RESULTS

Over a 3-year period, 214 children were randomized (PEG, 107; RIG, 107), of whom 100 received PEG and 96 RIG. There was no significant difference in the number of complications between PEG and RIG groups (P = 0·875), or in the complication score: patients undergoing RIG had a 1·04 (95 per cent c.i. 0·89 to 1·21) times higher complication score than those who underwent PEG (P = 0·597). Only age had an independent significant effect on complication score, with older patients having a 0·97 (0·95 to 1·00) times lower complication score per year.

CONCLUSION

PEG and RIG are both safe methods of gastrostomy insertion with a low rate of major complications. Registration number: NCT01920438 ( http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).