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[Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. Is it safe to start eating immediately?]
Ramón Carmona-Sánchez1, Gregorio Navarro-Cano
1Servicio de Gastroenterología, Hospital Central Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P. rcarmonas@prodigy.net.mx
Revista De Gastroenterologia De Mexico
|June 18, 2002
Summary
Immediate feeding after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement is safe. This study found no significant difference in complications between patients fed immediately and those fed 24 hours later.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Clinical Nutrition
- Medical Procedures
Background:
- Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a common procedure with a low complication rate.
- Current practice typically delays feeding for 24 hours post-PEG placement.
- The safety of immediate post-PEG feeding has not been well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety of initiating feeding immediately after PEG placement.
- To compare immediate feeding versus delayed feeding (24 hours) in PEG patients.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 62 patients undergoing PEG placement.
- Patients were assigned to either immediate feeding (Group A) or delayed feeding (Group B, 24 hours post-procedure).
- Outcomes assessed included local infections and mild to severe complications over a three-day hospitalization.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences in local infection rates between immediate (6%) and delayed (19%) feeding groups.
- Mild complication rates were 10% for immediate feeding and 6% for delayed feeding (p=NS).
- Severe complication rates were 3% for immediate feeding and 6% for delayed feeding (p=NS).
Conclusions:
- Immediate post-PEG feeding is a safe clinical practice.
- Delaying feeding for 24 hours after PEG placement is not necessary to ensure patient safety.
- This finding supports earlier initiation of nutritional support in PEG patients.