title: Placement of gastrostomy tubes in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts does not result in increased incidence of shunt infection or decreased survival.
abstract: The objective of this study was to examine if G-tube (G-tube) placement in patients with ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts results in shunt infection or impacts patient survival. We performed a retrospective cohort study. Patients underwent VP shunt and G-tube placement. Incidence of shunt infection and patient survival were calculated. Fifty-five patients qualified for the study. Shunt infection occurred in seven patients (12.5%). The incidence of shunt infection did not differ between surgically placed G-tubes (2/7=29%) and PEG tubes (5/7=71%; P=0.69). There was no difference in the risk of VP infection based on the order of placement (OR=0.61 [0.12-3.02]; P=0.69). No predictors for shunt infection were identified. Kaplan-Meier mortality estimates demonstrated a 21% 1-year mortality rate. There were no predictors of patient survival. We conclude that placement of G-tubes in patients with shunts is safe. The order of placement of G-tube and VP shunt does not affect the incidence of shunt infection or survival.
authors.affiliation: Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Wisconsin-School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792-5124, USA.
authors.forename: Brent E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Roeder
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Said
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reichelderfer
authors.forename: Deepak V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Gopal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality*; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology