Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in elderly patients.
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) was performed on 28 elderly patients (mean age 82 years) who were dysphagic and intolerant of naso-gastric feeding. Twenty-six patients were recovering from a stroke; the interval between the onset of stroke and PEG averaged 63 days. The procedure was successful and well tolerated by all patients. Nineteen (68%) still had a functioning PEG a median of 14 weeks after placement. One patient whose swallowing recovered had the tube removed 6 months after its insertion. Seven patients (25%) subsequently died from their underlying disease, a mean of 92 days following PEG. There was one procedure-related death from peritonitis. PEG is a useful alternative to surgical gastrostomy in selected elderly patients with dysphagia who are intolerant of naso-gastric feeding.
Finucane
P
P
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Cardiff Royal Infirmary, UK.
Aslan
S M
SM
Duncan
D
D
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005773:Gastroscopy; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male