Percutaneous Radiologic Gastrostomy in Patients with Stroke

Area of Science:

• Interventional Radiology
• Gastroenterology
• Neurology

Background:

• Dysphagia is a common complication of cerebral infarction, impacting nutritional status.
• Percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy (PRG) and nasal feeding tubes (NFT) are common interventions.
• Evaluating the comparative effectiveness and safety of PRG versus NFT is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness and safety of PRG in patients with dysphagia due to cerebral infarction.
• To compare nutritional status, adverse events, and comfort levels between PRG and NFT.

Main Methods:

• An interventional study involving sixty patients with cerebral infarction-induced dysphagia.
• Patients were randomly assigned to either the PRG group or the NFT group.
• Nutritional markers, adverse events, and comfort levels were assessed post-intervention.

Main Results:

• The PRG group showed significant improvements in serum albumin, prealbumin, hemoglobin, and triceps circumference compared to the NFT group.
• The incidence of adverse events was significantly lower in the PRG group (3.33%) than in the NFT group (30%).
• Patient comfort levels were significantly higher in the PRG group (93.33%) compared to the NFT group (53.33%).

Conclusions:

• Percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy is an effective method for improving nutritional status in patients with cerebral infarction-induced dysphagia.
• PRG offers a safer alternative with fewer complications and enhanced patient comfort compared to nasal feeding tubes.
• PRG is recommended for managing dysphagia in this patient population.