Clinical aspects of long-term enteral nutrition via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG)

Adequate enteral nutrition is a major medical goal in patients with inadequate oral food intake caused by various underlying diseases of benign and malignant origin. Due to its safe and technically simple route of placement the PEG has become the preferred enteral route of choice for enteral long-term nutrition world-wide. The incidence of PEG placement is still rapidly increasing. Based on the results of recently published large clinical studies the technical success rate is >99 % with a procedure-related lethal rate of about 0 %. Prospective clinical studies clearly prove the excellent individual subjective acceptance of this method by the patients. Indications, contra-indications, complications and technical procedures of PEG placement are described in detail in the present review. In general, long-term enteral feeding via PEG is accepted as a safe, effective, easy to practice and highly acceptable method with excellent long-term results and distinct improvement of nutritional status. Individual decisions for PEG placement should be considered much earlier and more frequently in appropriate patients to save and further improve quality of life in patients with inadequate oral food intake caused by various benign and malignant diseases.