SUMMARYBackground: Silicone percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes are associated with more short-term complications and possibly fail sooner than those made of polyurethane. Understanding the deterioration and long-term complications leading to tube failure has important clinical and cost implications. Aim: To compare dwell time and patterns of failure ofsilicone polymer and polyurethane PEG tubes. Methods: Participants randomized to receive a siliconepolymer (n ¼ 76) or polyurethane (n ¼ 62) PEG werevisited monthly for 540 days, until death or tube removal. Tube and exit site characteristics and reasons for removal were recorded. Results: Tube failure occurred in 25% of silicone PEGs and 12.9% of polyurethane PEGs. Mean tube survival

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