Nutritional profile and mortality in patients undergoing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

Background: malnutrition is a common problem in hospitalized patients, being associated with increased morbidity, mortality and costs. Multiple factors contribute to a deficient nutritional status, making malnutrition the cause or consequence of severe diseases. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a minimally invasive procedure indicated for long-term administration of enteral nutrition in patients with limited ability for oral intake who have an intact, functional gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to determine the profile of patients undergoing PEG in a tertiary hospital in southern Brazil. Methods: single-center retrospective study of all patients who underwent PEG from January 1st to December 31st, 2016, in a private tertiary hospital located in southern Brazil. Data were collected retrospectively from the patients' medical records, including nutritional status, indications, complications and outcomes. Results: one hundred and thirty-three patients underwent PEG at our institution and were eligible for inclusion in the study. Median patient age was 82 years, and 57.9% were females. The main indication for PEG was dementia syndrome, followed by stroke. As much as 68.4% were diagnosed as severely malnourished and 23.0% had procedure-related complications. Conclusions: PEG tubes are being increasingly used for enteral nutrition in patients with dysphagia or inability to maintain adequate nutritional intake. The findings of the present study highlight the importance of regular nutritional risk screening by a multidisciplinary team, paying special attention to the patient's nutritional status and conditions that may place the patient at risk of developing dysphagia, with the implementation of measures to minimize malnutrition in hospitalized patients.