Subcutaneous Emphysema Following Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG): A Case Report

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) has been used since 1980 as an alternative to feed patients with swallowing difficulties. Most of the complications resulting from this procedure are not too severe, including gastric content leakage around the tube, local infections and bleeding, and pneumoperitoneum. Post-PEG subcutaneous emphysema is rare, with few cases reported in the literature. We present a PEG case using a traction (“pull”) method in a 73-year-old woman who developed extensive pneumoperitoneum and subcutaneous emphysema in the face, neck and chest as identified immediately after the procedure.

Keywords: Gastrostomy, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Subcutaneous Emphysema.