Early percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). A safe and effective enteral feeding technique in neurologic intensive care unit.

Enteral feeding by percutaneous gastrostomy is recommended as the "best choice" in NICU patients. It allows us to obtain early gut activation and to prevent physiopathologic events leading to multiorgan failure syndrome. In this retrospective study the Authors describe their experience related to 76 patients admitted in NICU between January 1992 and April 1994. In these patients percutaneous gastrostomy was easily and safety performed at the bedside with early enteral nutrition and drug administration and a related low incidence of infections complicating central and peripheral vein catheterization. Moreover the authors underline the avoidance of nasogstric tube and its side effects and a good compliance of patients and nurses that seems to be a real advantage of this technique. The authors suggest their 13 guidelines to improve management of enteral nutrition by gastrostomy and to avoid its short-comings.