[Our experience of PEG and home care for twelve years]

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) was introduced in 1980 by Ponsky et al. This technique does not require general anesthesia and is performed safely and rapidly under local anesthesia without laparotomy. For the past twelve years, in order to maintain enteral alimentation for patients who suffered from dysphagia due to cerebral angiopathy, and to reduce patients' suffering from the long-term placement of a nasogastric tube, PEGs were performed in 150 patients (130 patients for enteral nutrition and 20 for drainage of gastrointestinal contents). We also provided home care service for 30 (27 for enteral nutrition and 3 for decompression) of these patients. We pointed out two problems connected with our retrospective studies for PEG. One is related to the indication of PEG, especially to the evaluation of preoperative status. We suggested a new method for measuring the preoperative status of patients for PEG (PEG-POS score). Retrospective studies showed the PEG-POS score was effective. Using this PEG-POS score, we have not had any early-stage deaths after PEG. Another is related to the home care service for patients with PEG. Consulting the questionnaire survey of families who experienced PEG home care, we examined various problems of home care.