[Endoscopic gastrostomy in patients with complicated heart diseases]

Complicated cardiologic patients with brain ischemia and heart failure need long term enteral nutrition. Long term nasoenteral tube feeding may cause complications that could be avoided with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the indications for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and its main complications. Twelve patients were submitted to percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (eight male) with main age of 62.42 +/- 22.10 years old. Brain ischemia was the main indication of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and occurred after 35.58 +/- 26.79 days, after initiated enteral nutrition. There were no complications during procedure. On late post operatory period there were local infection in one cases, treated with local care. In conclusion, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is a secure technique with low incidence of complications and its indication should be earlier.