title: In-hospital and long-term outcomes after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in patients with malignancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is widely performed for nutrition or palliation, PEG-associated outcomes in cancer patients remain poorly described. We examined the safety and benefits of PEG placement in this population at our institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 5-year retrospective review of patients with malignancy (excluding head/neck and thoracic malignancy) who underwent PEG at our institution was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and eighty-nine patients with malignancy underwent PEG; 33.9% had hematologic malignancy, 66.1% had nonhematologic malignancy, and 44.4% had metastatic disease. Indications for PEG were enteral access (73%) and gastric decompression/management of obstructive symptoms (27%). Few patients achieved independence from total parenteral nutrition (22%) or diet advancement (24.6%). Overall rates of major complications (eg, aspiration, tube dislodgement/leakage, bleeding, visceral injury, respiratory failure after procedure, and cardiac arrest) and minor complications (eg, superficial infection and ileus) were 10.2% and 11.3%, respectively. All-cause in-hospital mortality was high (19.6%) and was associated with ICU admission (p = 0.018), earlier bone marrow transplantation (p = 0.022), steroid treatment (p = 0.024), and lower preoperative albumin (p = 0.003). Code status was changed after PEG in 44 patients from full code to DNR/do no intubate or comfort measures only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy placement in this study population was associated with major procedure-related complications. The majority of patients failed to achieve total parenteral nutrition independence or advancement of diet. Nearly 25% of patients declined aggressive resuscitation strategies after undergoing surgery for PEG. This study cautions to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of PEG placement in this patient population. Prospective studies are needed to uncover factors affecting the decision process and patient selection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Emily Z
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Keung
authors.forename: Xiaoxia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Afrin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nuzhad
authors.forename: Guilherme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rabinowits
authors.forename: Vihas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000379:methods*; D017052:Hospital Mortality / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010166:Palliative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome