title: Decompression after gastric surgery. Gastrostomy versus nasogastric tube.
abstract: The efficacy and associated morbidity and mortality of gastrostomy (G) versus nasogastric (NG) tube decompression after gastric surgery were analyzed in a review of 100 patients. Age, sex, and risk factors were homogeneously distributed between the two groups, while perforated ulcers and emergency operations were more common in the G group. A gastrostomy did not completely eliminate the need for NG tube decompression in the G group. Postoperative morbidity was similar in the two groups, with the exception of an increased incidence of atelectasis in the elective NG group and increased mortality in the emergency G group. There was also a significant increase in length and cost of hospitalization in the emergency G group compared with emergency NG patients. Gastrostomy does not appear to offer any significant advantage over nasogastric decompression after gastric surgery and should be limited to special cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Pricolo
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Vittimberga
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Yellin
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Burchard
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Slotman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010439:Peptic Ulcer Perforation / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013270:Stomach / Q000601:surgery*