title: Pulmonary scintigraphy as a method to investigate gastrobronchial communication in tracheostomized patients.
abstract: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a degeneration of somatic motor neurons extending from upper motor cortical pyramidal neurons to lower motor neurons of the brainstem and cord. During the course of the disease patients require invasive procedures for nutrition and ventilation. Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG), performed in patients with impaired swallowing, is a safe procedure for the administration of Enteral Nutrition (EN). In the advanced stages of the disease patients develop a ventilatory failure due to muscolar weakness in these case they need a permanent tracheal tube with mechanical ventilation. Here we reported a case of a patient with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ASL) who developed an increased gastric endocavitary pressure after a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG).
authors.affiliation: Ospedale Infermi, Viale Stradone 9, Faenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Graziani
authors.affiliation: Ospedale Infermi, Viale Stradone 9, Faenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.affiliation: Ospedale Infermi, Viale Stradone 9, Faenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Oliviero
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Quercia
authors.affiliation: Ospedale Infermi, Viale Stradone 9, Faenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Paola
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Spadazzi
authors.affiliation: Ospedale Infermi, Viale Stradone 9, Faenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Del Giudice
authors.affiliation: Ospedale Infermi, Viale Stradone 9, Faenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Stefanini
authors.affiliation: Ospedale Infermi, Viale Stradone 9, Faenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanzi
authors.affiliation: Ospedale Infermi, Viale Stradone 9, Faenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierpaolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Casalini
authors.affiliation: Ospedale Infermi, Viale Stradone 9, Faenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pezzi
authors.affiliation: Ospedale Infermi, Viale Stradone 9, Faenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mirici Cappa
keywords: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Gastrobronchial fistula; Pulmonary scintigraphy