Our experience with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and long-term follow-up results

Abstract

Aim: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the preferred method for long-term enteral feeding of patients who cannot be fed orally for various reasons and have a functioning gastrointestinal system. In this study, we aimed to present and discuss the demographic characteristics, indications, and early and late complications of patients implanted with the endoscopic PEG in our center.
 Material and Method: In this study, we retrospectively evaluated age, gender, chronic diseases, indication for PEG, complications during the procedure, complications arising from PEG during patient follow-up, and survival times of 84 patients who underwent PEG between January 2016 and January 2020 from the electronic medical file system.
 Results: Of the 84 patients enrolled in the study, 59.5% (n=50) were male and 40.5% (n=34) were female. The mean age of the patients was 61.35±19.52 years. The endoscopic PEG success rate was 97.6%. Of the requests for PEG, 58.6% (n=50) were for patients in intensive care units. The most common indications for PEG insertion were cerebrovascular accident (CVA), chronic nervous system disease, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Complications related to PEG were observed in 11 patients. All complications were mild, and no severe complications were observed. While one of the complications developed in the early period ( 30 days). No deaths from causes related to the PEG procedure have been observed.
 Conclusion: In patients with inadequate oral intake, PEG is a safe and appropriate option for continuous enteral feeding because of its low complication and mortality rates.