Longitudinal complications associated with PEG: Rate and severity of 30-day and 1-year complications experienced by patients after primary PEG insertion.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) feeding is utilised in patients with exceptionally poor oral intake but is associated with both short and long-term complications. This study reviews longitudinal PEG complications and compares key subgroups.

METHODS

Single-centre retrospective observational study of all patients receiving PEG insertion between January 2016 and December 2018.

RESULTS

306 patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean age at insertion was 67 years. The majority were cared for in their own home (80.4%) by themselves or family (74.9%). 127 PEG tubes were inserted for dysphagia and 165 prophylactically prior to treatment for head and neck cancer. In the first 30 days 16.7% experienced a complication. The most frequently reported was peristomal pain (9.2%). In the first year, 35.6% experienced at least one complication, 12.4% two complications and 6.6% three complications and 6.5% required inpatient treatment for their complication. The most common was pain (14.4%) followed by site weeping, site infection and external overgranulation. Patients with dysphagia took longer to develop complications, had fewer complications and took longer to require management by members of the secondary care team than those with head and neck cancer. Discounting peristomal pain, there was no difference in total complications between patients caring for themselves when compared to those receiving professional input.

CONCLUSION

One third of patients will experience a complication related to their PEG tube over 1 year, but the majority are managed in an outpatient setting. This study has implications for planning support services and consenting and counselling patients pre-PEG-insertion.