PERCUTANEOUS ENDOSCOPIC GASTROSTOMY RESULTS IN A SECONDARY STATE HOSPITAL

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the indications of Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) patients treated in a secondary state Burdur hospital over a period of three years, the unit where the patient was hospitalized, survival time with PEG therapy, and the complications observed in these patients. Methods: Patients who underwent PEG in the endoscopy unit of our hospital, between January 2019 and January 2022, were retrospectively evaluated. Age, gender, the unit of inpatient, indications for PEG therapy, complications after PEG, and survival status of the patients were recorded in the form of case reports. Patients with coagulation disorders, hemodynamic instability, peritonitis, sepsis, infection at the insertion area, peritonitis carcinomatosis, a history of total gastrectomy and gastric varices were excluded. Results:The median age of the 120 patients included in the study was 79 (17–100) years, and 66 (55%) of the patients were male. Complications were observed in 14 (11.7%) patients, all of which were minor, including seven (5.8%) PEG site infections, three (2.5%) PEG site leakages, three (2.5%) PEG occlusions, and one (0.9%) PEG removal. It was determined that 73 (60.8%) patients survived at least 30 days; the patients were most frequently referred by the neurology unit, with a rate of 52.7%. The most common indications for PEG insertion were cerebrovascular disease (56.7%) and dementia (29.2%). Conclusion: Maintenance of nutritional requirements via PEG allows for the preservation of mucosal integrity and barrier function, intestinal immune response, and normal flora. It is superior to other enteral feeding methods due to the lower risk of aspiration. In conclusion, our study, which presented the experiences of the PEG insertion and therapy in a secondary state hospital, stated that the complication rates, indications, and referring clinics were found to be consistent with available literature.