Indications, complications and patient satisfaction in percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

OBJECTIVE AND HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the PEG indications, early and late term complications, mortality, morbidity rates, and patient or patient-relative satisfaction about this method.METHODS: Forty two patients (21 M, 21 F, median age: 61.2 + 17.7 years) who inserted PEG tube in DEU gastroenterology clinic between 01/10/2005 and 01/06/2007 were enrolled into the study. Patients were evaluated for PEG tube related complications and gastrointestinal system problems at the first day, the first week, the first month and the third month after the PEG insertion and every 3 months thereafter. If any problem occurred between these periods, it had been reported to his physician by his relatives, care workers or nurses. The scar lesions around PEG tube were evaluated according to the scoring system proposed by Jain et al. In patients that had survived for 3 months, PEG tube related patient satisfaction was evaluated by subjective tolerability scale which is proposed by Loser and his co-workers.RESULTS: PEG tubes were placed in 30 patients for non-malign disorders and 12 for malign disorders for a total of 42. Non-malign disorders were cerebrovascular disease (n:13), chronic central neurologic disease (n:11), frequent pulmonary aspiration (n:5) and respiratory insufficiency (n:1). Overall 25 PEG related compliacations (4 major and 21 minor) were observed. The most frequent complication was PEG related wound infection (n:10). Early (in the first month) and first year mortality rates were 17 % and 60 %, respectively. There were no statistical significance between conditions as haemoglobin concentration below 10 g/dl, leukocyte count above 10 x 109/ml, CRP concentration more than 10 mg/L, albumin concentration below 3 g/dl, creatinin concentration above 1.2 mg/dl, Glasgow coma scale above 10 and the rate of mortality in first month. PEG placed patients for frequent pulmonary aspiration had statistically significantly higher death ratio in 1 month compared to the other groups (80 % vs. 17 %; p=0, 01). 97 % of PEG placed patients or their relatives indicated that feeding with PEG tube was an efficient method or a good experience.CONCLUSİON: PEG is a reliable, efficient method and has a high patient and patient-relative satisfaction.KEY WORDS: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrectomy; Mortality; Indication; Complication.