[Percutaneous endoscopic enterostomy. Advantages and risks]

The aim of the study is to analyse the benefits and risks of PEE in patients, cared for by a team with many years experience.

From 16. 2. 1988 until 31. 12. 1993 246 PEEs (229 gastrostomies, 6 duodenostomies, 7 jejunostomies, 4 attempts) were performed on 234 patients (56% male, 44% female, mean age 68.3 years). 117 patients had tumorous and 117 neurological diseases. We used the pull technique with the Fresenius Freka PEG-system. Analysis was performed using a standardised documentation sheet which was filled out until the end of tube feeding. In total, we registered 39,678 days of tube feeding, 4513 of which were in hospitalized patients.

The mean intubation time was 192.6 days (maximum 1496). In 8 cases, the tube could be explanted before the patient was discharged; 68 patients were discharged to a nursing home and 71 patients were allowed to go home. The tube-independent hospital lethality was 36.64%. A PEE-specific lethality had not been registered. Complications arose in a total of 37 patients (15.04%), 4 of which were severe (1.63%) Fifty-nine patients (25.43%) reported short-term feelings of ill health (vomiting, diarrhoea, pain).

PEE is an effective and low-risk method of long-term nutrition. The advantages are simple insertion, safe handling by patients and relatives/nursing staff and the low cost.