Serum albumin is predictive of 30-day survival after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes have been used since 1980 in patients who require prolonged enteral feeding.

PURPOSE

To identify factors associated with poor survival (defined as survival < 30 days) post-PEG.

METHODS

We assessed a cohort of 64 patients consecutively referred for a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube in a single, tertiary care hospital. Prior to PEG tube placement, we evaluated relevant clinical variables in each patient to determine their effect on 30-day mortality.

RESULTS

Of the cohort, 43 of 64 (67.2%) survived at least 30 days after tube placement. One death was attributable to tube placement. Bivariate analyses showed that 30-day survival correlated directly with serum albumin (r = .253; p = .049) and inversely with creatinine (r = -0.255; p = .042). Using multivariable logistic regression analysis, only albumin was identified as an independent predictor of 30-day survival (p = .044). Eighty-three percent of patients with a serum albumin > or = 3.0 g/dL survived 30 days compared with 58% with an albumin < 3.0, a difference of 25% (95% CI, -2% to 54%; p = .07).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, serum albumin appears to be a predictor of early survival in individuals undergoing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement.