Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: The clinical experience in the University Hospital of Patras

OBJECTIVE: In the past decade percutaneous endoscopic gastroscopy (PEG) has displaced surgical gastrostomy as the method of choice for long-term enteral nutrition. The aim of this study was to present clinical experience with the PEGs and to evaluate outcome. METHOD: Between December 1999 and July 2006, 79 patients, 53 males and 26 females, mean age 59.6 (range 11-92) years, underwent PEG. The patients presented in this study suffered mainly from dysphagia due to stroke, or feeding difficulty due to head and neck malignancy. The pull method with silicon Wilson-Cook tube was applied. RESULTS: Periprocedural morbidity was low (2.85%). The overall morbidity was 37.1% with an increased tendency for the development of pressure sores (14.28%) and buried bumber syndrome (2.85%). CONCLUSIONS: The experience of this department, in accordance with the literature, demonstrates that PEG is a safe and effective technique for patients requiring long-term enteral nutrition, which, and although it does not prolong life, is of benefit in improving the quality of life for some patients.