Percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy (PRG)

What to expect?

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. You will need to stay at the hospital for one day and potentially one night. Please do not eat 6 hours before your procedure. We will administer a small tube through your nose into your stomach, which we will use to blow air into your stomach during the procedure. You will also get an IV.

The procedure will take place at the radiology department. You will be lying down on your back with an x-ray tube. This table is designed for use with image-guided procedures. The interventional radiologist will first create an image of your stomach to determine the position of your liver. Then we will make sure that your tube is positioned correctly. Through a small incision, which will then be stretched the PRG tube will be placed. This tube is kept in the right position using a balloon.

Most people will have to spend the night at the hospital after the procedure. During the first hours after the procedure, you may experience some discomfort in the area, You cannot use the tube for 6 hours after its placement. After those 6 hours, or on the next day, we will run a test feeding using some water. If this does not cause any problems, you can start your feedings.

What are the potential risks and complications?

The most common risks are skin infection and bruising. Extremely rare but bothersome complications include bleeding or pressure ulcers around the PRG. In rare cases, the stomach opening may start leaking, or the colon may get hit during the tube placement, causing peritonitis. We will examine you to ensure that you are eligible for the procedure, and to see which technique would be best for you. This keeps the risk of complications low (currently the percentage of patients who experience serious complications is less than 3%).