In-Hospital Mortality Is Substantial with Percutaneous Gastrostomy or Jejunostomy

These findings should be considered in decisions regarding end-of-life care.

Enteral feeding by endoscopically placed transcutaneous tubes (PEG for gastrostomy, PEGJ for jejunostomy) is indicated in patients who are unlikely to be able to take oral nutrition for >30 days. The use of PEG and PEGJ has increased over time, but available data from large studies are more than a decade old.

To examine outcomes in 64,219 patients (mean age, 77.4 years) who underwent placement of PEG or PEGJ between 2007 and 2010, investigators retrospectively reviewed administrative claims data from acute care hospitals in Japan. Findings included:

Inpatient mortality was 11.9%.
The most common indications for procedures were cerebrovascular disease, pneumonia, neuromuscular disease, and dementia.
Complication rates for the procedures were <3%…

Reviewing Author

David J. Bjorkman, MD, MSPH (HSA), SM (Epid.)

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

David J. Bjorkman, MD, MSPH (HSA), SM (Epid.)

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

In-Hospital Mortality Is Substantial with Percutaneous Gastrostomy or Jejunostomy

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Reviewing Author