BACKGROUND: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is now a standard method for providing long-term enteral nutrition in patients who are unable to swallow. The aim of our study was to document clinical data that would allow prediction of a possible complicated clinical course. METHODS: The study was carried out retrospectively. Clinical data of patients having received a PEG tube by a single endoscopic technique were analyzed. RESULTS: Some 5. 17% of 232 patients showed complications requiring surgery including a mortality rate of 0.43%. Patients with complications had a significantly lower body mass index and there was a significantly higher complication rate in patients having obstructive malignancies compared with benign diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Low body mass index and advanced malignancies are predictors for complications after PEG application. Early installation should help prevent further nutritional deterioration and the related risk of complications.
BACKGROUND: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is now a standard method for providing long-term enteral nutrition in patients who are unable to swallow. The aim of our study was to document clinical data that would allow prediction of a possible complicated clinical course. METHODS: The study was carried out retrospectively. Clinical data of patients having received a PEG tube by a single endoscopic technique were analyzed. RESULTS: Some 5. 17% of 232 patients showed complications requiring surgery including a mortality rate of 0.43%. Patients with complications had a significantly lower body mass index and there was a significantly higher complication rate in patients having obstructive malignancies compared with benign diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Low body mass index and advanced malignancies are predictors for complications after PEG application. Early installation should help prevent further nutritional deterioration and the related risk of complications.
Authors: T L Van Natta; J A Morris; V A Eddy; C R Nunn; E J Rutherford; D Neuzil; J M Jenkins; J G Bass Journal: Ann Surg Date: 1998-05 Impact factor: 12.969