[Experiences with enteral nutrition of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) via a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG)]

Abstract

Background: We wanted improve the nutritional status of patients with cystic fibrosis with enteral feeding via a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG).

Patients and methods: In a period of 8 years 11 patients underwent a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), 4 males and 7 females, in the median 14,9 years of age (7,4/20,8). So far we overlook a median duration of enteral feeding therapy of 19,5 months (10/53).

Main results: In 9 of the 11 patients we found a distinct increase of the predicted anthropometrical values,e.g. the weight for height value increased statistically significant in the first 3 months by 10,3 % from 84,7 % to 95,5 % and showed a further increase to 97,8 % after 10 months of nocturnal enteral feeding (p < 0,05). The predicted values of the lung function got stabilized too, with an increase by 9 % of the FEV1 and 3 % of the vital capacity after 10 months. Here was no statistically significance found. In one patient with a poor social-economic background and a lack of compliance the PEG had to be removed surgically because of an abscess formation. Another patient developed an acute gastric ulcer which responded very well onto conservative therapy. In the other patients there were no further complications.

Conclusion: We can conclude that in the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis showing an unsatisfying nutritional status the long-term nocturnal enteral feeding via a PEG is a good and well tolerated method. The best results we achieved when the gastrostomy was placed at an early state of the disease. That's why we demand an early mentioning of this option of enteral feeding to the patients and their families since the involved mostly need a long time for their decision for that invasive procedure.