Emergency Presentations for Gastrostomy Complications Are Similar in Adults and Children

ABSTRACT: Gastrostomy tube (GT) complications are often managed in the Emergency Department (ED). We aimed to characterize and compare the pattern of ED presentations of GT complications in adults and children. A retrospective chart review of patients with GT complications presenting to 3 Australian EDs in 2 years was undertaken. ED visits for GT complications occurred in 70 GT patients (36 adults, 34 children) with 122 presentations. When comparing adults to children, infections occurred in 21% versus 36%, respectively; P = 0.08, mechanical issues in 48% versus 52%; P = 0.86, vomiting in 23% versus 8%; P = 0.02, and other issues in 7% versus 5%; P = 0.7. Presentation to ED within 28 days of initial GT insertion occurred in 3 (8%) adults and 3 (9%) children, predominantly with tube dislodgement. GT complications seen in ED are predominantly infectious and mechanical in nature, with an increased frequency of vomiting in adults when compared with children.