PERCUTANEOUS ENDOSCOPIC GASTROSTOMY APPLICATION TO GERIATRIC PATIENTS IN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Introduction: Nutritional support is very important in geriatric patients with insufficient or no oral intake in intensive care units (ICU). The need for active enteral nutrition by means of nutrition tubes in patients with impaired swallowing function, the methods of application and the benefits obtained are still controversial. In this study we aimed to evaluate the problems related with application of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) to geriatric patients who need intensive care. Materials and Method: We investigated the decisions to apply PEG to geriatric patients in the ICU, the delays in the process of its application and the infection rates retrospectively. Results: We evaluated data from the records of 172 geriatric patients who were admitted to ICU in one year. PEG was applied to 14 patients (8.1%). The mean age of the patients was 76.7 +/- 8.1. Twelve patients had neurological comorbidities such as dementia and cerebrovascular events. Nutritional intolerance developed in one patient, following PEG. The mean duration between admission and the decision for PEG was 12.5 +/- 8.4 days. The mean duration between the decision and application of PEG was 8.6 +/- 5.4 days. The mean duration of stay ICU stay was 40.3 +/- 19.7 days. Ventilator-associated pneumonia developed before PEG application in 8 patients and after PEG application in 1 patient. Conclusion: PEG provides reliable long term nutritional support for geriatric patients, with low complication and infection rates, and should be applied as an early intervention.