[Gastroesophageal reflux after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. Scintigraphic study in 51 patients]

Gastro-oesophageal reflux and pneumonia are complications of enteral feeding. We report our experience of a scintigraphic technique in 51 patients fed by percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. The technique was very well tolerated; only one patient (2 percent) had vagal discomfort. A quantitative isotopic study using Tc 99 m labelled enteral infusion demonstrated episodes of reflux in 26 patients (51 percent). The reflux was greater than 6 percent of recording time in 15 patients. All patients with pneumonia had positive scintigraphy. Our study suggests that reflux is frequent after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and constant in patients with pneumonia.