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Postgrad Med J 1991;67:371-373 doi:10.1136/pgmj.67.786.371
  • Research Article

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in elderly patients.

  1. P. Finucane,
  2. S. M. Aslan,
  3. D. Duncan
  1. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Cardiff Royal Infirmary, UK.

      Abstract

      Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) was performed on 28 elderly patients (mean age 82 years) who were dysphagic and intolerant of naso-gastric feeding. Twenty-six patients were recovering from a stroke; the interval between the onset of stroke and PEG averaged 63 days. The procedure was successful and well tolerated by all patients. Nineteen (68%) still had a functioning PEG a median of 14 weeks after placement. One patient whose swallowing recovered had the tube removed 6 months after its insertion. Seven patients (25%) subsequently died from their underlying disease, a mean of 92 days following PEG. There was one procedure-related death from peritonitis. PEG is a useful alternative to surgical gastrostomy in selected elderly patients with dysphagia who are intolerant of naso-gastric feeding.

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