title: Reasons of PEG failure to eliminate gastroesophageal reflux in mechanically ventilated patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate factors predicting failure of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) to eliminate gastroesophageal reflux (GER).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine consecutive mechanically ventilated patients were investigated. Patients were evaluated for GER by pH-metry pre-PEG and on the 7th post-PEG day. Endoscopic and histologic evidence of reflux esophagitis was also carried out. A beneficial response to PEG was considered when pH-metry on the 7th post-PEG day showed that GER was below 4%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen patients responded (RESP group) and 12 did not respond (N-RESP) to PEG. The mean age, sex, weight and APACHE II score were similar in both groups. GER (%) values were similar in both groups at baseline, but were significantly reduced in the RESP group compared with the N-RESP group on the 7th post-PEG day [2.5 (0.6-3.8) vs 8.1 (7.4-9.2, P < 0.001)]. Reflux esophagitis and the gastroesophageal flap valve (GEFV) grading differed significantly between the two groups (P = 0.031 and P = 0.020, respectively). Histology revealed no significant differences between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic grading of GEFV and the presence of severe reflux esophagitis are predisposing factors for failure of PEG to reduce GER in mechanically ventilated patients.
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Critical Care, Evgenidion Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens 115 28, Greece. edouzin@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Emmanuel E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Douzinas
authors.forename: Ilias
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Andrianakis
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Livaditi
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bakos
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Flevari
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goutas
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vlachodimitropoulos
authors.forename: Marios-Konstantinos
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Tasoulis
authors.forename: Alex P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Betrosian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000628:therapy; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000628:therapy*; D005773:Gastroscopy / Q000379:methods; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome