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Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a nonoperative technique for placing feeding tubes and commonly is performed by gastroenterologists, surgeons, or even radiologists. Given that patients who require this procedure typically are debilitated and will experience prolonged recumbence, risk for gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents are concerns.
To identify risk factors for GER and aspiration after PEG placement, investigators in Japan performed a case-control study of 178 patients (mean age, 83) who required PEG. Endoscopic assessment of the esophagus was recorded during PEG tube placement, and gastric motility and degree of GER were estimated by scintigraphy 7 to 14 days later. The GER index (GERI…