[Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: its value in assisted alimentation in malnutrition in elderly patients. Apropos of 101 consecutive cases in patients over 70 years of age].

This is a prospective study concerning 101 percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies (PEG) performed in patients aged from 70 to 98 (83.6). We obtained a success in 99%. Indications were stroke and its consequences in 36%, dementia in 22%, depressive syndrome in 38% (7% in the postoperative period) laryngeal or oesophageal tumors in 4%. This technique was carried out in outpatients without anesthesia but PEG must be considered to be a surgical method. Only 5% patients presented major immediate complications with three deaths (3%) due to the technique. Follow-up (30 days) demonstrated 11 other deaths. Would earlier PEG have given better results? Oral feedings (alone or both oral and PEG) were possible in 51% patients. PEG is a valuable technique of feeding assistance in the aged, offering an alternative to nasogastric tube and could be used more extensively in old patients.