Day-case percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: a viable proposition?

The aim of our study was to evaluate the success rate, complications, and long term outcomes following day-case percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). This retrospective study was carried out in a 650-bed District General hospital in Northamptonshire, UK. Thirty-six patients, aged 28-90 years, were included in the study, 21 males (58%) and 15 females (42%). Indications for PEG insertion included head and neck cancer, dysphagia as a result of primary disease, and AIDS-related malnutrition. Data were collected from the medical and dietetic records. The PEG procedure was successful in 33 patients (92%). In 32 cases (97%) the patient was discharged home. Twenty five of the patients (76%) suffered no complications whilst seven (21%) suffered complications within a month of the procedure. No patient required further surgical intervention. Five patients (15%) died of their primary disease within a month of the procedure. Patients had had their PEG tubes in situ for up to 2.5 years at the end of data collection. We conclude that PEG can be performed as a day-case procedure in stable patients with no increase in complication rate, morbidity, or mortality.