Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy using 10-cc syringe tubes for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients with limited mouth opening

Outcomes of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in hospitalized patients at a tertiary care center in Turkey

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to perform a retrospective analysis characterizing patients receiving tube feeding following percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement between 2004 and 2012 at Erciyes University Hospital in Turkey.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

Patients above the age of 18 years who required long-term enteral tube feeding were studied. All PEGs were performed using the pull-through technique by one experienced endoscopist. Demographic, clinical outcomes and PEG-related complication data were collected.

RESULTS

Of the 128 subjects studied, 91 were men (71%) and 37 were women (29%). The mean age of this patient population was 54 ± 19 years. The most common reason for PEG tube insertion was the inability to consume oral diet due to complications of cerebrovascular disease (27%), while cerebral hypoxia, occurring after nonneurological medical disorders, was the second most common indication (23%). A total of 70 patients (55%) had chronic comorbidities, with hypertension being the most common (20%). The most common procedure-related complication was insertion-site bleeding, which occurred in 4% of patients. Long-term complications during 1 year were insertion-site cellulitis, gastric contents leakage and peristomal ulceration, which occurred in 14%, 5% and 0.5% of patients, respectively. There were no PEG insertion-related mortalities; 1-year mortality was unrelated to the indication for PEG tube insertion.

CONCLUSIONS

PEG tube insertion was a safe method to provide enteral access for nutrition support in this hospitalized patient population.

Risk factors for complications of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a commonly performed procedure for patients with severe dysphagia leading to malnutrition. Improved knowledge of risk factors for PEG-related complications might decrease patient discomfort and healthcare costs.

AIM

The aim of the present study was to investigate factors associated with complications after PEG.

METHODS

A retrospective review was performed for all patients referred for PEG placement from December 2002 to December 2012 in single-tertiary care center. PEG-related complications and risk factors were evaluated through chart reviews, endoscopic reports, and endoscopic and radiologic images.

RESULTS

Among a total of 245 consecutive individuals (146 male, mean age 59.2 ± 12.6 years) enrolled, 43 major complications had developed. Multivariate analysis revealed that patients with an internal bolster of a PEG tube in the upper body of stomach were at significant risk for early [OR 6.127 (95 % CI 1.447-26.046)] and late complications [OR 6.710 (95 % CI 1.692-26.603)]. Abnormal leukocyte counts [OR 3.198 (95 % CI 1.174-8.716)], stroke as an indication for PEG [OR 3.047 (95 % CI 1.174-8.882)], and PEG tube placement by an inexperienced endoscopist [OR 3.401 (95 % CI 1.073-10.779)] were significantly associated with early complications.

CONCLUSIONS

A PEG tube should not be inserted into the upper body of stomach to reduce complication risk, and PEG procedures should be performed by skilled endoscopists to prevent early complications. An abnormal leukocyte count can be a predictor of early complication, and care is needed when PEG is performed for patients with stroke.