Timing of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Outcomes of stroke patients undergoing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (P.E.G.) is recommended for stroke patients with dysphagia to sustain oral nutrition.

OBJECTIVE

This study assesses the outcomes of stroke patients undergoing P.E.G. compared with those requiring nasogastric tube (N.G.T) or control group.

METHODS

We performed a thorough search across five electronic databases to gather pertinent studies. Outcomes were analyzed using relative risk (R.R.) for categorical data and mean difference (M.D.) for continuous data, each with 95% confidence intervals (C.I.). The single-arm meta-analysis results were presented as proportions or mean changes, also with 95% C.I.

RESULTS

We included 22 studies consisting of 996,567 patients. Our double-arm meta-analysis (924,134 patients) revealed no significant difference in post-hospitalization or in-hospital mortality between P.E.G. and control groups. However, P.E.G. patients showed a higher risk of aspiration pneumonia than control (R.R. = 11.72[3.75, 36.62], p < 0.00001). A comparison of P.E.G. and N.G.T. in three studies involving 691 patients indicated a non-significant difference in-hospital mortality risk (R.R. = 0.59, 95% C.I. [0.2, 1.72]). The single-arm analysis of stroke patients with P.E.G. identified a 19.8% in-hospital mortality, 13.6% rate of aspiration pneumonia, and 58% rate of pneumonia.

CONCLUSION

Stroke patients undergoing P.E.G remain at high risk for aspiration pneumonia and with an in-hospital mortality suggesting the need for identifying the best candidates and timing for the procedure.

Pre-Stroke Frailty and Outcomes following Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tube Insertion

BACKGROUND

Frailty is common in stroke, where it exerts disease- and treatment-modifying effects. However, there has been little work evaluating how frailty influences outcomes after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube insertion. This study investigates the relationship between pre-stroke frailty and one-year mortality following PEG insertion.

METHODS

A pre-stroke frailty index (FI) was calculated for individuals with post-stroke dysphagia who underwent PEG insertion between March 2019 and February 2021. Mortality was recorded at one year, as well as instances of post-PEG pneumonia and discharge destination.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine individuals underwent PEG insertion, eleven (37.9%) of whom died in the subsequent year. The mean (SD) FI for those who survived was 0.10 (0.09), compared to 0.27 (0.19) for those who died (p = 0.02). This remained significant after adjustment for age and sex, with each 0.1 increase in the FI independently associated with an increased odds of one-year mortality (aOR 1.39, 95% CI 1.17-1.67). There was no association between frailty and post-PEG pneumonia (0.12 (0.21) in those who aspirated versus 0.11 (0.18) in those who did not, p = 0.75).

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-stroke frailty is associated with increased one-year mortality after PEG, a finding that may help inform shared clinical decision-making in complex decisions regarding PEG feeding.

Establishing a Clinical Care Pathway to Expedite Rehabilitation Transitions for Stroke Patients With Dysphagia and Enteral Feeding Needs

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a physiatrist-led clinical pathway to expedite rehabilitation transitions for stroke patients with dysphagia requiring nasogastric tube or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

DESIGN

This is a retrospective single-center observational study in 426 adults with stroke and dysphagia admitted to the acute hospital. Physican Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) was consulted to determine dysphagia prognosis and candidacy for rehabilitation admission with nasogastric tube or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. The proportion of patients accepted with nasogastric tube versus percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, progression to total oral diet during rehabilitation, and lengths of stay were tracked.

RESULTS

The rate of recovery to total oral diet for patients accepted with nasogastric tube was 38/44 = 86.3% versus 29/75 = 38.6% with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. There was a significant difference in mean time to total oral diet with nasogastric tube (20.37 days) versus percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (34.46 days): t (43) = 4.49, P < 0.001. The acute hospital length of stay was significantly shorter with nasogastric tube (12.9 days) versus percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (20.4 days): t (117) = 4.16, P < 0.001. Rehabilitation length of stay did not differ significantly between groups (26.9 vs. 32.0 days).

CONCLUSION

Physiatrist-led initiatives to evaluate stroke patients with dysphagia can expedite rehabilitation transitions, prevent unnecessary invasive procedures, and reduce acute hospital length of stay.

Outcomes and Experiences of Patients and Their Caregivers After Severe Stroke Requiring Tube Feeding in Peru

OBJECTIVES

Evaluate clinical outcomes of stroke survivors in Peru discharged with artificial nutrition via a feeding tube (FT), and explore perspectives and experiences of these patients and their caregivers.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review to describe the prevalence of FT placement and characteristics of patients admitted with stroke to the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas in Lima, Peru between January 2019 and 2021. Follow-up calls to stroke survivors discharged home with FTs or their caregivers included quantitative and qualitative questions to assess long-term outcome and explore perspectives around poststroke care and FT management. We analyzed quantitative data descriptively and applied thematic analysis to qualitative data using a consensus-driven codebook.

RESULTS

Of 812 hospitalized patients with stroke, 146 (18%) were discharged home with FT, all with nasogastric tubes (NGTs). Follow-up calls were performed a median of 18 months after stroke with 96 caregivers and three patients. Twenty-five patients (25%) had died, and 82% of survivors (n = 61) remained dependent for some care. Four themes emerged from interviews: (1) perceived suffering (physical, emotional, existential) associated with the NGT and stroke-related disability, often exacerbated by lack of preparedness or prognostic awareness; (2) concerns around compromised personhood and value-discordant care; (3) coping with their loved-one's illness and the caregiving role; and (4) barriers to NGT care and skill acquisition.

CONCLUSION

We identified a high burden of palliative and supportive needs among severe stroke survivors with NGTs and their caregivers suggesting opportunities to improve poststroke care through education, communication, and support.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy

With an aging population, the number of patients with difficulty swallowing due to medical conditions is gradually increasing. In such cases, enteral nutrition is administered through a temporary nasogastric tube. Long-term use of a nasogastric tube leads to various complications and a decreased quality of life. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the percutaneous placement of a tube into the stomach, aided endoscopically, which may be an alternative to a nasogastric tube when enteral nutritional is required for 4 weeks or more. This paper is the first Korean clinical guideline for PEG. It was developed jointly by the Korean College of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research and led by the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. These guidelines aimed to provide physicians, including endoscopists, with the indications, use of prophylactic antibiotics, timing of enteric nutrition, tube placement methods, complications, replacement, and tubes removal for PEG based on the currently available clinical evidence.

Complications and outcomes of hospitalizations for patients with and without Parkinson disease

Objective

To examine complications and outcomes of hospitalizations for common indications for hospitalization among patients with Parkinson disease (PD).

Methods

We identified and selected the ten most common indications for hospitalization among individuals ≥65 years of age using principal diagnoses from the California State Inpatient Database, 2018-2020. Patients with comorbid PD were identified using secondary diagnosis codes and matched one-to-one to patients without PD based on principal diagnosis (exact matching), age, gender, race and ethnicity, and Elixhauser comorbidity index (coarsened exact matching). We identified potentially preventable complications based on the absence of present on admission indicators among secondary diagnoses. In the matched cohort, we compared inpatient complications, early Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) orders (placed within 24 h of admission), use of life-sustaining therapies, new nursing facility requirement on discharge, and death or hospice discharge for patients with and without PD.

Results

We identified 35,457 patients with PD among the ten leading indications for hospitalization in older adults who were matched one-to-one to patients without PD (n = 70,914 in total). Comorbid PD was associated with an increased odds of developing aspiration pneumonia (OR 1.17 95% CI 1.02-1.35) and delirium (OR 1.11 95% CI 1.02-1.22) during admission. Patients with PD had greater odds of early DNR orders [placed within 24 h of admission] (OR 1.34 95% CI 1.29-1.39). While there was no difference in the odds of mechanical ventilation (OR 1.04 95% CI 0.98-1.11), patients with PD demonstrated greater odds of tracheostomy (OR 1.41 95% CI 1.12-1.77) and gastrostomy placement (OR 2.00 95% CI 1.82-2.20). PD was associated with greater odds of new nursing facility requirement upon discharge (OR 1.58 95% CI 1.53-1.64). Patients with PD were more likely to die as a result of their hospitalization (OR 1.11 95% CI 1.06-1.16).

Conclusion

Patients with PD are at greater risk of developing aspiration pneumonia and delirium as a complication of their hospitalization. While patients with PD more often have early DNR orders, they have greater utilization of life-sustaining therapies and experience worse outcomes of their hospitalization including new nursing facility requirement upon discharge and greater mortality.

Timing and Outcomes of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy After Ischemic Stroke

Background

Guidelines recommend using percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) for dysphagia after 2 weeks of stroke onset. We aimed to study the impact of PEG timing on outcomes in patients with ischemic stroke.

Methods

In this retrospective study of patients with ischemic stroke and PEG between 2014 and 2019, early PEG was defined as PEG tube placed within 14 days of stroke and late PEG after 14 days. Outcomes of 30-day mortality, PEG-related complications, and functional swallow recovery were compared between early and late PEG. Logistic regression model assessed factors associated with PEG timing.

Results

The median time of PEG tube placement after stroke was 10.9 days. Of the 161 included patients, 60.9% had early PEG, and its associated patient factors were nursing facility discharge (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 3.4, confidence interval (CI): 1.48 - 7.82) and infection (OR: 0.32, CI: 0.139 - 0.178). Late PEG had 3.27 times greater odds of swallowing recovery, but mortality and complications were not significantly different between early and late PEG.

Conclusions

Skilled nursing facility disposition and lack of infection were predictors of early PEG, constituting the majority of PEG placed for ischemic stroke-related dysphagia. Although better odds of swallowing recovery were seen with late PEG, likely implicating better patient selection, overall, the timing of PEG tube placement did not impact short-term mortality and complications.

Practice Patterns and Attitudes Among Speech-Language Pathologists Treating Stroke Patients with Dysphagia: A Nationwide Survey

Dysphagia management is a core component of quality stroke care. Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) play a key role in the management of post-stroke dysphagia. We sought to elicit perceptions, attitudes, and practice patterns regarding post-stroke dysphagia management among SLPs in the United States. We conducted a survey among SLPs registered with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association who indicated that they care for acute stroke patients. A total of 336 participants completed the survey. Over half of the participants (58.6%) indicated that they obtain objective swallow testing in ≥ 60% of their post-stroke dysphagia patients. Almost 1 in 5 SLPs indicated that they are often unable to perform objective dysphagia testing due to limited resources (18.8% indicated resource limitations; 78.9% indicated no resources limitations; 2.4% were unsure). SLPs in hospitals without stroke center certification had higher odds of indicating limited resources compared to SLPs in certified stroke centers (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.11-3.87). Over 75% indicated that percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes after stroke are placed too early. SLPs who obtain objective swallow testing in ≥ 60% of patients had higher odds of indicating that PEG tubes are placed too early (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.13-2.56). While 19.4% indicated that the optimal timing for PEG after stroke is < 7 days after admission, 25.0% indicated that the optimal timing is > 12 days. Almost 35% indicated that health care system pressures influence their recommendations, and 47.6% indicated that ≥ 25% of PEGs could be avoided if patients were given up to 7 more days for swallowing recovery.

Timing of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement in post-stroke patients does not impact mortality, complications, or outcomes

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) tubes are often placed for dysphagia following a stroke in order to maintain sufficient caloric intake. The 2011 ASGE guidelines recommend delaying PEG tube placement for two weeks, as half of patients with dysphagia improve within 2 wk. There are few studies comparing outcomes based on timing of PEG tube placement, and there is increasing demand for early PEG tube placement to meet requirements for timely discharge to rehab and skilled nursing facilities.

AIM

To assess the safety of early (≤ 7 d post stroke) vs late (> 7 d post stroke) PEG tube placement and evaluate whether pre-procedural risk factors could predict mortality or complications.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study of patients undergoing PEG tube placement for dysphagia following a stroke at two hospitals in Saint Louis, MO between January 2011 and December 2017. Patients were identified by keyword search of endoscopy reports. Mortality, peri-procedural complication rates, and post-procedural complication rates were compared in both groups. Predictors of morbidity and mortality such as protein-calorie malnutrition, presence of an independent cardiovascular risk equivalent, and presence of Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria or documented infection were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

154 patients had a PEG tube placed for dysphagia following a stroke, 92 in the late group and 62 in the early group. There were 32 observed deaths, with 8 occurring within 30 d of the procedure. There was an increase in peri-procedural and post-procedural complications with delayed PEG placement which was not statistically significant. Hospital length of stay was significantly less in patients with early PEG tube placement (12.9 vs 22.34 d, P < 0.001). Protein calorie malnutrition, presence of SIRS criteria and/or documented infection prior to procedure or having a cardiovascular disease risk equivalent did not significantly predict mortality or complications.

CONCLUSION

Early PEG tube placement following a stroke did not result in a higher rate of mortality or complications and significantly decreased hospital length of stay. Given similar safety outcomes in both groups, early PEG tube placement should be considered in the appropriate patient to potentially reduce length of hospital stay and incurred costs.

When is enteral nutrition indicated?

Enteral nutrition (EN) is a vital component of nutrition around the world. EN allows for delivery of nutrients to those who cannot maintain adequate nutrition by oral intake alone. Common questions regarding EN are when to initiate and in what scenarios it is safe. The answers to these questions are often complex and require an evidence-based approach. The Board of Directors of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) established an Enteral Nutrition Committtee to address the important questions surrounding the indications for EN. Consensus recommendations were established based on eight extremely clinically relevant questions regarding EN indications as deemed by the Enteral Nutrition Committee. These consensus recommendations may act as a guide for clinicians and stakeholders on difficult questions pertaining to indications for EN. This paper was approved by the ASPEN Board of Directors.

End-of-Life Care Decision-Making in Stroke

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability in the United States. Though advances in interventions have improved patient survival after stroke, prognostication of long-term functional outcomes remains challenging, thereby complicating discussions of treatment goals. Stroke patients who require intensive care unit care often do not have the capacity themselves to participate in decision making processes, a fact that further complicates potential end-of-life care discussions after the immediate post-stroke period. Establishing clear, consistent communication with surrogates through shared decision-making represents best practice, as these surrogates face decisions regarding artificial nutrition, tracheostomy, code status changes, and withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining therapies. Throughout decision-making, clinicians must be aware of a myriad of factors affecting both provider recommendations and surrogate concerns, such as cognitive biases. While decision aids have the potential to better frame these conversations within intensive care units, aids specific to goals-of-care decisions for stroke patients are currently lacking. This mini review highlights the difficulties in decision-making for critically ill ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage patients, beginning with limitations in current validated clinical scales and clinician subjectivity in prognostication. We outline processes for identifying patient preferences when possible and make recommendations for collaborating closely with surrogate decision-makers on end-of-life care decisions.

An overview of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement in the intensive care unit

Critically ill patients are at increased risk for malnutrition as they often have underlying acute and chronic illness, stress related catabolism, decreased appetite, trauma and ongoing inflammation. Malnutrition is recognized as a leading cause of adverse outcomes, higher mortality, and increased hospital costs. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes provide a safe and effective route to provide supplemental enteral nutrition to these patients. PEG placement has essentially replaced surgical gastrostomy as the modality of choice for longer term feeding in patients. This is a highly prevalent procedure with 160,000 to 200,000 PEG procedures performed each year in the United States. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of current knowledge and practice standards with regards to placement of PEG tube in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). When a patient is considered for a PEG tube, it is important to evaluate the treatment alternatives and identify the best option for each patient. In this review, we provide the advantages and disadvantages of various feeding modalities and devices. We review the indications and contraindications for PEG tube placement as well as the risks of this procedure. We then describe in detail the per-oral pull, per-oral push, and direct percutaneous techniques for PEG tube placement. Additionally, we review the feasibility of having interventional pulmonologists place PEG tubes in the ICU.

Protecting Patient Safety and Preventing Modifiable Complications After Acute Ischemic Stroke

TOPIC

Protecting patient safety and preventing modifiable complications after acute ischemic stroke.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in adults. Stroke survivors often experience a variety of deficits related to mobility, nutrition, immunity, mood, and cognition. These post-stroke complications and residual effects can adversely affect safety, placing the patient at risk for further injury. In order to develop a plan of care that protects patient safety, critical care and progressive care nurses must understand the unique needs of this patient population.

PURPOSE

To describe selected ischemic stroke-related physiological changes, how these changes contribute to safety risks, and methods of enhancing patient safety.

CONTENT COVERED

Stroke physiology and stroke-specific interventions that can enable nurses to reduce the risk of falls, dysphagia, malnutrition, dehydration, altered glucose metabolism, device-related infections, aspiration pneumonia, delirium, and depression.

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy and Mortality After Stroke in England From 2007 to 2018: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Swallowing difficulties are common poststroke. National clinical guidelines recommend feeding by percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) when oral nutrition cannot be maintained although survival benefit might be short term. It is unknown whether a decade of general care improvements have impacted upon PEG provision and outcomes. This retrospective cohort study examined PEG placement and mortality poststroke in England.

METHODS

National Health Service Hospital Episode Statistics and Office for National Statistics mortality data between April 2007 and March 2018 were linked to identify all admissions in England with stroke-related International Classification of Diseases codes (I61, I63, and I64)±PEG insertion and deaths at 3, 6, and 12 months. Linear and logistic regression examined trends over time and mortality.

RESULTS

Patients (923 236) with stroke underwent 17 532 PEG procedures (mean rate 1.9%), with an average reduction of -27 procedures/year ([95% CI, -56 to 1.4]; P=0.06) despite an average increase of 1804 stroke admissions/year. Mortality decreased among cases without a PEG procedure: -190 deaths/year ([95% CI, -276 to -104]; P<0.001) at 3 months, -167 deaths/year ([95% CI, -235 to -98]; P<0.001) at 6 months and -103 deaths/year ([95% CI, -157 to -50]; P<0.01) at 12 months; and also reduced following PEG insertion: -28 deaths/year ([95% CI, -35 to -20]; P<0.001) at 3 months, -33 deaths/year ([95% CI, -46 to -20]; P<0.01) at 6 months and -30 deaths/year ([95% CI, -48 to -13]; P<0.01) at 12 months. With all years combined, PEG insertion was weakly associated with reduced mortality at 3 months (odds ratio, 0.94 [95% CI, 0.90-0.97]) but significantly higher mortality at 6 months (odds ratio, 1.69 [95% CI, 1.64-1.75]) and 12 months (odds ratio, 2.14 [95% CI, 2.08-2.20]).

CONCLUSIONS

PEG procedures and subsequent deaths have decreased in the context of general mortality reductions after hospitalization for stroke, but survival at 6 and 12 months remains significantly worse for patients with PEG placement.

Development and Validation of a Prognostic Tool for Direct Enteral Tube Insertion After Acute Stroke

Background and Purpose- We aimed to create a novel prognostic risk score to estimate outcomes after direct enteral tube placement in acute stroke. Methods- We used the Ontario Stroke Registry and linked databases to obtain clinical information on all patients with direct enteral tube insertion after ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2010 (derivation cohort) and July 1, 2010 to March 31, 2013 (validation cohort). We used multivariable regression to assign scores to predictor variables for 3 outcomes after tube placement: favorable outcome (discharge modified Rankin Scale score 0-3 and alive at 90 days), poor outcome (discharge modified Rankin Scale score 5 or death at 90 days), and 30-day mortality. Results- Variables associated with a favorable outcome were younger age, preadmission independence, ischemic stroke rather than intracerebral hemorrhage, lower stroke severity, and a shorter time between stroke and tube placement. Variables associated with a poor outcome were older age, preadmission dependence, atrial fibrillation, greater stroke severity, and tracheostomy. Age, preadmission dependence, atrial fibrillation, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and shorter time to tube placement were associated with increased 30-day mortality. Using these variables, we created an online calculator to facilitate estimation of individual patient risk of favorable and poor outcomes. C-statistic in the validation cohort was 0.82 for favorable outcome, 0.65 for poor outcome, and 0.62 for 30-day mortality, and calibration was adequate. Conclusions- We developed risk scores to estimate outcomes after direct enteral tube insertion for acute dysphagic stroke. This information may be useful in discussions with patients and families when there is prognostic uncertainty surrounding outcomes with direct enteral tube placement after stroke.

Predictors and associating factors of nasogastric tube removal: Clinical and brain imaging data analysis in post-stroke dysphagia

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Post-stroke dysphagia is a frequent complication. Although most patients with dysphagia recover after the acute phase, some patients require long-term enteral feeding, either through a nasogastric (NG) or gastrostomy tube; the effectiveness of using either tube is still under debate. This study elucidated the natural course of NG tube installation and removal and examined the predictors and associating factors based on clinical and brain imaging data.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study with medical record reviews recruited patients received NG tube installation after their acute stroke events between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2016. Inclusion criteria were subjects above 20 years of age and with a diagnosis of a newly onset stroke except SAH whose comprehensive clinical and imaging data were available. Survival analysis was performed for the right-censored data because some patients were lost to follow-up after discharge or transferal.

RESULTS

In total we recruited 135 patients. Among these patients, the timing of their NG tube removal reached a plateau at 12-16 weeks after stroke. The modified Rankin score on discharge, representing the overall subacute disease status, was the most significant factor. Other clinical variables could be divided into 2 categories: baseline patient characteristics and stroke event severity. Moreover, semi-quantitative brain imaging scores corresponding to the aforementioned 3 categories were correlated significantly.

CONCLUSION

In Taiwan, the NG tube removal rate reached a plateau at around 12-16 weeks after stroke onset. Variables related to long-term NG tube use were divided into baseline characteristics of patient and stroke event severity.

Earlier tracheostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in patients with hemorrhagic stroke: associated factors and effects on hospitalization

OBJECTIVE

Existing literature supports benefits of early tracheostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in certain patient populations. The aim of this study was to review tracheostomy and PEG placement data in patients with hemorrhagic stroke in order to identify factors associated with earlier placement and to evaluate outcomes.

METHODS

The authors performed a retrospective review of consecutive patients treated for hemorrhagic stroke between June 1, 2011, and June 1, 2015. Data were analyzed by logistic and multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

Of 240 patients diagnosed with hemorrhagic stroke, 31.25% underwent tracheostomy and 35.83% underwent PEG tube placement. Factors significantly associated with tracheostomy and PEG included the presence of pneumonia on admission and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Earlier tracheostomy was significantly associated with shorter ICU length of stay; earlier tracheostomy and PEG placement were associated with shorter overall hospitalization. Timing of tracheostomy and PEG was not significantly associated with patient survival or the incidence of complications in this population.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified patient risk factors associated with increased likelihood of tracheostomy and PEG in patients with hemorrhagic stroke who were critically ill. Additionally, we found that the timing of tracheostomy was associated with length of ICU stay and overall hospital stay, and that the timing of PEG was associated with overall length of hospitalization. Complication rates related to tracheostomy and PEG in this population were minimal. This retrospective data set supports some benefit to earlier tracheostomy and PEG placement in this population and justifies the need for further prospective study.

Establishing Goals of Care for Patients With Stroke and Feeding Problems: An Interdisciplinary Trigger-Based Continuous Quality Improvement Project

BACKGROUND

Few patients with dysphagia because of stroke receive early palliative care (PC) to align treatment goals with their values, as called for by practice guidelines, particularly before enteral access procedures for artificial nutrition.

MEASURES

To increase documented goals of care (GOC) discussions among acute stroke patients before feeding gastrostomy tube placement.

INTERVENTION

We undertook a rapid-cycle continuous quality improvement process with interdisciplinary planning, implementation, and performance review to operationalize an upstream trigger for PC referral prompted by the speech and language pathology evaluation.

OUTCOMES

During a six-month period, 21 patients underwent gastrostomy tube placement; 52% had preprocedure GOC discussions postintervention, with the rate of compliance increasing steadily from 13% (11/87, preintervention) to 100% (2/2) in the final two months.

CONCLUSIONS/LESSONS LEARNED

We effectively increased documented GOC discussions before feeding gastrostomy tube placement among stroke patients. Systems-based tools and education will enhance this upstream trigger model to ensure early PC for stroke patients.

Race Differences in Gastrostomy Tube Placement After Stroke in Majority-White, Minority-Serving, and Racially Integrated US Hospitals

We sought to determine individual and system contributions to race disparities in percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement after stroke. Ischemic stroke admissions were identified from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample between 2007 and 2011. Hospitals were categorized based on the percentage of ethnic/racial minority stroke patients (< 25% ethnic/racial minorities ["majority-white hospitals"], 25-50% ethnic/racial minorities ["racially integrated hospitals"], or > 50% ethnic/racial minorities ["minority-serving hospitals"]). Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between ethnicity/race and PEG utilization within and between the different hospital strata. Among 246,825 stroke admissions, patients receiving care in minority-serving hospitals had higher odds of PEG compared to patients in majority-white hospitals, regardless of individual patient race (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.24, 95% CI 1.12-1.38). Ethnic/racial minorities had higher odds of PEG than whites in any hospital strata; however, this discrepancy was largest in majority-white hospitals (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.48-1.76), and smallest in minority-serving hospitals (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.11-1.33; p for interaction < 0.001). Ethnic/racial minority patients had similar odds of PEG in any hospital strata, while white patients had increasing odds of PEG in racially integrated and minority-serving compared to majority-white hospitals (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.15-1.43 in racially integrated, and OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.23-1.57 in minority-serving, compared to majority-white hospitals, p for trend < 0.001). The likelihood of PEG after ischemic stroke was increased in minority-serving compared to majority-white hospitals. White patients had higher odds of PEG in minority-serving compared to majority-white hospitals, indicating a systemic difference in PEG placement across hospitals.

Outcomes among patients with direct enteral vs nasogastric tube placement after acute stroke

OBJECTIVE

To compare complications, disability, and long-term mortality of patients who received direct enteral tube vs nasogastric tube feeding alone after acute stroke.

METHODS

We used the Ontario Stroke Registry to identify patients who received direct enteral tubes (DET; gastrostomy or jejunostomy) or temporary nasogastric tubes (NGT) alone during hospital stay after acute ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage from July 1, 2003, to March 31, 2013. We used propensity matching to compare groups from discharge and evaluated discharge disability, institutionalization, complications, and mortality, with follow-up over 2 years, and with cumulative incidence functions used to account for competing risks.

RESULTS

Among 1,448 patients with DET placement who survived until discharge, 1,421 were successfully matched to patients with NGT alone. Patients with DET had reduced risk of death within 30 days after discharge (9.7% vs 15.3%; hazard ratio [HR] 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.49-0.75), but this difference was eliminated after matching on length of stay and discharge disability (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.70-1.17). Patients with DET had higher rates of severe disability at discharge (modified Rankin Scale score 4-5; 89.6% vs 78.4%), discharge to long-term care (38.0% vs 16.1%), aspiration pneumonia (14.4% vs 5.1%) and other complications, and mortality at 2 years (41.1% vs 35.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with DET placement after acute stroke have more severe disability at discharge compared to those with NGT placement alone, and associated higher rates of institutionalization, medical complications, and long-term mortality. These findings may inform goals of care discussions and decisions regarding long-term tube feeding after acute stroke.

Minority race and male sex as risk factors for non-beneficial gastrostomy tube placements after stroke

Background

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes are widely used for enteral feeding after stroke; however, PEG tubes placed in patients in whom death is imminent are considered non-beneficial.

Aim

We sought to determine whether placement of non-beneficial PEG tubes differs by race and sex.

Design and setting/participants

In this retrospective cohort study, inpatient admissions for stroke patients who underwent palliative/withdrawal of care, were discharged to hospice, or died during the hospitalization, were identified from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample between 2007 and 2011. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between race and sex with PEG placement.

Results

Of 36,109 stroke admissions who underwent palliative/withdrawal of care, were discharge to hospice, or experienced in-hospital death, a PEG was placed in 2,258 (6.3%). Among PEG recipients 41.1% were of a race other than white, while only 22.0% of patients without PEG were of a minority race (p<0.001). The proportion of men was higher among those with compared to without a PEG tube (50.0% vs. 39.2%, p<0.001). Minority race was associated with PEG placement compared to whites (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.57–1.96), and men had 1.27 times higher odds of PEG compared to women (95% CI 1.16–1.40). Racial differences were most pronounced among women: ethnic/racial minority women had over 2-fold higher odds of a PEG compared to their white counterparts (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.81–2.41), while male ethnic/racial minority patients had 1.44 increased odds of a PEG when compared to white men (95% CI 1.24–1.67, p-value for interaction <0.001).

Conclusion

Minority race and male sex are risk factors for non-beneficial PEG tube placements after stroke.