title: Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tube Insertion in Neurodegenerative Disease: A Retrospective Study and Literature Review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  With the notable exceptions of dementia, stroke, and motor neuron disease, relatively little is known about the safety and utility of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube insertion in patients with neurodegenerative disease. We aimed to determine the safety and utility of PEG feeding in the context of neurodegenerative disease and to complete a literature review in order to identify whether particular factors need to be considered to improve safety and outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective case note review of patients referred for PEG insertion by neurologists in a single neuroscience center was conducted according to a pre-determined set of standards. For the literature review, we identified references from searches of PubMed, mainly with the search items "percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy" and "neurology" or "neurodegenerative disease."
  
  
  RESULTS
  Short-term mortality and morbidity associated with PEG in patients with neurological disease were significant. Age greater than 75 years was associated with poor outcome, and a trend toward adverse outcome was observed in patients with low serum albumin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights the relatively high risk of PEG in patients with neurodegenerative disease. We present points for consideration to improve outcome in this particularly vulnerable group of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK.|Clinical Neuroscience, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neuroscience, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK.|Clinical Neuroscience, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Neil J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Scolding
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK.|Clinical Neuroscience, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Claire M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rice
keywords: Motor neuron disease; Multiple sclerosis; Neurodegenerative diseases; Parkinson disease; Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy