Factors predicting early discharge and mortality in post-percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy patients.
BACKGROUND
The aim of our study was to ascertain factors that favor early discharge and predict mortality in post-percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) patients.


METHODS
Successive patients who underwent successful PEG placement during a 10-year period in a single New York City hospital were included in the study. Data was retrospectively extracted from hospital electronic medical records.


RESULTS
Two hundred and eighty-four patients underwent successful PEG placement. Forty-six patients (16%) were discharged within 3 days of PEG placement (early discharge). Two hundred and thirty six patients (84%) remained in hospital from 4 to 244 days (median 13.5) after PEG insertion (late discharge). Twenty-six (9%) patients died in-house after PEG placement. A serum albumin level <2.2 g/dL (P=0.007) and presence of 2 or more co-morbidities (P=0.019) were predictors of late discharge. A dementia indication was twice as likely to result in an early discharge compared to a stroke indication (OR 2.39; 95% CI 1.07-5.36; P=0.033). Female sex, positive urine cultures and low serum albumin levels were independent predictors of in-house mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical and laboratory markers may predict post-PEG mortality as well as early patient discharge.
Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Services, City Hospital Center at Elmhurst, New York and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York, USA.
Vivek V
VV
Gumaste
Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Services, City Hospital Center at Elmhurst, New York and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York, USA.
Kalyan R
KR
Bhamidimarri
Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Services, City Hospital Center at Elmhurst, New York and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York, USA.
Raghav
R
Bansal
Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Services, City Hospital Center at Elmhurst, New York and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York, USA.
Lovleen
L
Sidhu
Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Services, City Hospital Center at Elmhurst, New York and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York, USA.
Joel
J
Baum
Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Services, City Hospital Center at Elmhurst, New York and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York, USA.
Aaron
A
Walfish
Post-PEG mortality; co-morbidities