Enteral Feeding with Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Evaluation

Malnutrition is the most common problem affecting up to 40% of hospitalized patients. Malnutrition develops when metabolic requirements exceed the intake, and can develop due to reduced nutritional intake, increased nutrient requirement, or altered ability to utilize or absorb nutrients. Patients can often remain malnourished throughout their hospital stay and sometimes this condition also increase their morbidity and mortality. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is usually a straightforward procedure. This approach has been shown to produce superior results in terms of nutritional benefit when compared with nasogastric feeding.Retrospective analysis shows that PEG tubes proved simple to insert, with subsequent supplemental feeding using an elemental formula being well tolerated and leading to significant weight gain and apparent stabilisation of pulmonary function in a malnourished patients.