Original article
Clinical endoscopy
Death after PEG: results of the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gie.2007.10.019Get rights and content

Background

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is an accepted method of placing a feeding tube to enable enteral feeding in patients with swallowing difficulties. However, the factors associated with complications and death after PEG have not been studied in detail. We describe the largest audit of deaths after PEG tube insertion.

Objective

Our purpose was to determine the factors associated with death after PEG tube insertion.

Design

Deaths occurring within 30 days after PEG tube insertion in the United Kingdom between April 2002 and March 2003 were identified and a questionnaire was sent to the consultant endoscopist for completion.

Patients

A total of 719 patients (391 male, median age 80 years, range 26-98 years) who died within 30 days after PEG insertion were identified for this study.

Setting

United Kingdom hospitals.

Main Outcome Measurement

Cause of death.

Results

A total of 97% of the identified patients had coexistent neurologic disease. PEG tubes were inserted by specialized GI physicians in 522 cases (73%). Seventy-two patients (10%) required reversal agents after sedation. After PEG tube insertion, 309 patients (43%) died within 1 week. Death was due to cardiovascular disease (n = 175), respiratory disease (n = 508), central nervous system disease (n = 358), renal disease (n = 38), and hepatic failure (n = 11). In 136 cases (19%) the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death expert panel regarded the procedure as futile.

Limitations

Retrospective review of case records.

Conclusions

Mortality and morbidity rates after PEG tube insertion are not insignificant. Selection of patients is paramount to good patient outcomes. Multidisciplinary team assessment should be performed on all patients being referred for PEG tube insertion.

Section snippets

Patients and methods

All inpatient deaths within 30 days of an upper GI endoscopy and PEG tube insertion were identified by Office of Population Censuses and Surveys codes and included in the study. Postal questionnaires were sent to the consultant responsible for performing the endoscopic procedure. The endoscopist was asked to grade the anticipated risk of death within 30 days. The data were assessed by an independent panel of experts for comments. This was a multidisciplinary group comprising upper and lower GI

Patients

A total of 719 patients (391 male, median age 80 years, range 26-98 years) who died within 30 days after PEG insertion were identified. Of these, 588 (82%) were 70 years or older. Coexisting medical diagnoses are detailed in Table 1. Four hundred two patients (56%) had respiratory disease, 338 (47%) patients had cardiac disease, and 695 (97%) had neurologic disease (multiple responses permitted). Four patients had known liver cirrhosis, one of whom one was Child-Pugh A and three were Child-Pugh

Discussion

Previous studies have shown that gastrostomies are generally safe procedures, with a low risk of complications and a low procedure-related mortality rate independent of the technique used.4, 5 In spite of the ease with which gastrostomy may be performed by the percutaneous method, patient selection must be appropriate if results are to remain acceptable.6 Contraindications to PEG insertion include the presence of large-volume ascites, total esophageal obstruction, coagulation disorders, and

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