Learning objectives: Inability to swallow without aspiration is a common complication of acute stroke. In patients with prolonged swallowing dysfunction, a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube is placed. Although PEG placement is an increasingly common practice, there is a paucity of and sometimes conflicting information about utility and clinical outcomes after PEGs. PEG complications can range from minor to major and complication rates range from 16-75%. For a better understanding of PEG complications versus recovery of swallowing a retrospective study was performed on acute stroke patients who had a failed swallow evaluation and had a PEG placed.
Methods:
A retrospective review was performed of all patients with acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke admitted to a large academic medical center who had a PEG placed after failing a swallowing study between January 2016 and March 2016. Complications reviewed included acute bleeding within 24 hours, chronic GI bleeding related to PEG, inadvertent dislodging of PEG, PEG infections and unexpected return to the operating room. Additionally, information about recovery of swallowing function was collected.
Results:
64 patients were included. Average age was 70 years (SD 13.5). A PEG was placed on average 9.1 (SD 5.3) days into hospitalization and LOS averaged 7.6 days (SD 7.7) after PEG placement. The total number of patients who experienced a complication after PEG placement was 14 (21.9%). The most common complications were PEG infections, 6 patients (9.4%) and GI bleeding within 30 days of PEG placement, 6 patients (9.4%). There were 2 inadvertently pulled PEGs (3.1%) and 2 unexpected returns to the OR (3.1%). Out of the complications 2 (3.1%) resulted in death, 2 (3.1%) required surgical intervention. At least 20 patients recovered swallowing within a median of 26 days. At least 5 (7.8%) patients achieved recovery of swallow function within 14 days of PEG placement. Five patients had PEGs placed for inability to swallow liquids.
Conclusions:
In the acute stroke population, placement of PEG tubes was associated with a 21.9% complication rate and a 3.1% risk of mortality.
Hospital Readmissions of Stroke Patients with Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Feeding Tubes