American Journal of Roentgenology, Vol 171, 1003-1006, Copyright © 1998 by American Roentgen Ray Society
Performing radiologic gastrostomy or gastrojejunostomy in patients with malignant ascites
JM Ryan, PF Hahn and PR Mueller
Division of Abdominal and Interventional Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114, USA.
OBJECTIVE: We describe our protocol for performing decompression radiologic
gastrostomy and gastrojejunostomy in patients with ascites and small-bowel
obstruction. We also assess the technical success rate, the complications,
and the morbidity and mortality in 45 patients who underwent radiologic
gastrostomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five consecutive patients with
ascites associated with metastatic ovarian cancer underwent a radiologic
gastrostomy or gastrojejunostomy with gastropexy. Six patients underwent
gastrostomy, and 39 patients underwent gastrojejunostomy. Locking catheters
were placed using the Seldinger technique after gastropexy in all patients.
Paracentesis was performed before gastrostomy or gastrojejunostomy.
Additional serial paracenteses were performed after the procedure when
reaccumulation of ascites close to the site of gastropexy was detected on
follow-up sonography. RESULTS: Forty-five procedures were attempted. The
technical success rate was 97.8%. The complication rate was 15.6%. Three
major complications (6.7%) and four minor complications (8.9%) occurred.
One procedure-related death (2.2%) occurred 16 days after
gastrojejunostomy. CONCLUSION: Radiologic gastrostomy and gastrojejunostomy
can be performed safely in patients with ascites if the patients undergo
paracentesis first and if the reaccumulation of ascites is prevented after
tube placement. In patients with ascites, gastropexy plays an important
role in preventing pericatheter leakage. Ascites and peritoneal
carcinomatosis should not be considered contraindications for radiologic
gastrostomy or gastrojejunostomy.