W. Amann et al., PERCUTANEOUS ENDOSCOPIC GASTROSTOMY (PEG) - 8 YEARS OF CLINICAL-EXPERIENCE IN 232 PATIENTS, Surgical endoscopy, 11(7), 1997, pp. 741-744
Background: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is now a standar
d 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 complication
s 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 obstructi
ve malignancies compared with benign diseases. Conclusions: Low body m
ass index and advanced malignancies are predictors for complications a
fter PEG application. Early installation should help prevent further n
utritional deterioration and the related risk of complications.