[Two children with severe complications following incomplete removal of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) catheter].

A 6-year-old boy with multiple severe disabilities was admitted with acute and progressive dyspnoea. A new percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) catheter had been placed 2 weeks earlier, during which the old catheter was cut and left in the stomach. Radiological assessment revealed pneumonia and a traumatic fistula between the oesophagus and the left main bronchus. Respiratory support was required. The patient recovered after oesophagoscopic removal of the remaining portion of the PEG catheter. A 7-year-old boy with multiple severe disabilities presented with an acutely reduced level of consciousness, vomiting and progressive dyspnoea. Chest x-ray revealed signs of aspiration pneumonia and, after respiratory problems worsened, a foreign object in the oesophagus. The foreign object was likely the remaining portion of a PEG catheter that was removed 12 months earlier. The patient was discharged in good condition a few days after oesophagoscopic removal of the remaining catheter. PEG is a commonly used method for enteral feeding in children. The Dutch guideline on enteral feeding in children indicates that endoscopic removal of the PEG catheter is often necessary. In daily practice, however, endoscopic removal is not always performed. To avoid serious complications, authors recommend endoscopic removal ofthe silicon disk when replacing or removing a PEG catheter in children aged less than 6 years and all children with mental retardation, prior laparotomy or constipation. Endoscopic removal of the disk should be considered in all other children if the disk is not passed in stool within 2 weeks and an x-ray shows that the disk is in the oesophagus, stomach or proximal intestine.