Indications, One-Year Survival, and Complications of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy: A Cross Sectional Study

Providing ways for long-term feeding is essential for those who are not able to ingest. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a type of enteral feeding methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the complications, indications, and one-year survival of this method in patients who underwent PEG.
The cross-sectional study was carried out on 97 patients (census sampling) who had referred to Shahid Sadoughi Hospital in Yazd (Iran) for PEG tube placement in the period of March 2014 to March 2016. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire and were analyzed using SPSS software version 18.
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) was the most reason to refer to the hospital (52 cases, [%53.6]) followed by head and neck trauma (32 cases [33%]), head and neck tumors (6 cases, [6.2%]), ischemic encephalopathy (5 cases, [5.2%]), and burning (head trauma) (2 cases [1.2%]). Wound infection was observed in eight cases (8.2%), aspiration in three cases (1.3%), bleeding in three cases (3.1%), external leakage in two cases (2.1%), unplanned removal in two cases (2.1%), subcutaneous abscess in one patient (1%), and recurrent vomiting in one patient (1%). One year survival was measured 83.5%.
PEG tube is a very convenient feeding method. Its complications are limited compared with its benefits and it is useful for patients who have trouble in ingestion for a long time. Early discharge from the hospital, especially the intensive care units, reduces costs and length of hospital stay.