Audit of outcome of long-term enteral nutrition by percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the preferred method for administration of long-term enteral tube feeding. However, most published studies describe only short-term follow-up in any detail. We report the long-term outcome and complication rate after PEG insertion in 49 patients (mean [SE] age 64 [2] years) whose mean length of PEG feeding was 175 days (range 30-560). Data were collected prospectively. PEG insertion was technically successful in all cases, with a procedure-related mortality of 2%. Early (< 30 days) mortality and morbidity were 8% and 22%, respectively. Of 45 patients surviving for more than 30 days, 76% were able to return home and 6 patients were eventually able to revert to oral feeding. There were 27 late complications: 2 site infections, 17 mechanical problems, and 8 episodes of gastrointestinal dysfunction. 51% of patients had no problems at all and 22% had 2 or more complications. 47% of complications required a hospital visit for resolution. Long-term enteral feeding by PEG was safe, effective, and had a low complication rate. Our patients were managed by a specialist nutrition team, a policy that may reduce the complication rate and hospital visits for patients being fed at home, and allow early discharge of dysphagic patients, thereby reducing costs.