PP215-MON COMPLICATION RATE AND MORTALITY AFTER PERCUTANEOUS ENDOSCOPIC GASTROSTOMY ARE LOW AND DEPEND ON THE INDICATION

Rationale: This was an observational study to assess the safety of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). Methods: 119 patients mean age 63 years (21 91 years) who were admitted to the Hannover Medical School between November 2010 and March 2012 and had an indication for PEG according to the guideline of the DGVS/DGEM were included. Primary endpoints were date of death after placing the PEG during the hospital stay, death within 3 months after PEG was placed, and complications. Results: Most patients (57.2%) received a PEG for dysphagia caused by tumors and second (29.4%) for neurological diseases with a minor proportion of dementia. The most common PEG method that was used was the endoscopic standard technique. Complications were mild e.g. dislocation of the outer support and had no serious subsequent effects. The rate was very low (13%). In contrast to previous publications there was only one case of aspiration pneumonia. The 30-day mortality (about 10%) was much lower than published previously. If patients died, they died as a result of the primary disease and not from PEG. Conclusion: We conclude that PEG is a safe method with few mild complications. The artificial feeding via a percutaneous tube is well tolerated. However, it is important to consider the primary disease for the indication, the methods used to place the tube, and the risk of aspiration.