Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy in Ile-Ife, Nigeria:An Initial Report

Protein-energy malnutrition is a common problem in critically ill patient and it is a major cause of accelerated morbidity and mortality in this group of patients. Recent dramatic advances in both enteral and parenteral nutritional support have ensured that most of these critically ill patients are adequately nutritionally supported. Unfortunately, most of these advancements in nutritional supports are far from the reach of most patients in developing countries. In this report, we highlighted the indications, success, challenges of the use of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in Nigeria patients.

All cases of PEG performed at the Endoscopy Unit of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State from January 2011 and June 2012 were recruited into the study. The data obtained included the sociodemographic parameters, indication and duration of the procedure, complications, and follow up.

During the 18 months study period 645 upper gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures were performed. Majority [601(93.2%)] of the cases were for diagnostic purposes. Six (0.9%) cases of PEG were performed. Most (5 of 6) of the patients had central nervous system impairment while only one had severe chronic facial infection with naso-oral fistula. The median age of patients was 60.5 years. The entire procedure including endoscopy lasted an average of 25 minutes with a range of 12-35 minutes. Only one case had peristoma infection which resolved with antibiotics and repeated dressing with povidone iodine. There was no episode of aspiration pneumonitis or procedure related mortality. The average follow up was 6 months with variable weight gain during the follow up period.

PEG is a simple, cost effective and safe method to rehabilitate nutritionally all chronically ill patients in less developed countries such as Nigeria. The need to increase awareness and acceptability of PEG among physicians managing such patients and the society cannot be overemphasized.