Abstract
Aim: The primary aim of this study was to consider gastro-esophageal reflux in the patients with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), and the usefulness of performing contrast studies from the gastrostomy.
Subjects and Methods: Subjects comprised 216 patients who had undergone PEG at our hospital between April 2009 and March 2014. We examined contrast studies by X-ray, after injecting 250 ml of water mixed with 50 ml of contrast medium from the gastrostomy after PEG.
Results: Gastro-esophageal reflux was observed in 37 patients (17.1%), of whom 6 patients showed no symptoms associated with the gastro-esophageal reflux. Of the 176 patients (82.9%) with no gastro-esophageal reflux observed in contrast studies, 7 patients experienced vomiting or aspiration pneumonia. Thirty-eight patients (17.6%) had symptoms associated with gastro-esophageal reflux after injection of nutrients. Contrast study from gastrostomy offered 81.6% sensitivity and 96.6% specificity for symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux.
Conclusions: Contrast studies from the gastrostomy after PEG appear very useful, with very high sensitivity and specificity for symptoms of the gastro-esophageal reflux.
