Objective: To investigate the application of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) to patients with severe craniocerebral injury for the purpose of nutritional support therapy and pulmonary infection prevention.
Methods: A total of 43 patients with severe craniocerebral injury admitted to our department from January 2008 to December 2012 received PEG followed by nutritional therapy. There were other 82 patients who were prescribed nasal-feeding nutrition. Nutrition status was evaluated by comparing serum albumin levels, and the incidence of pulmonary infection 1 week before and 2 weeks after operation was identified and compared.
Results: Both PEG and nasal-feeding nutrition therapies have significantly elevated serum albumin levels (P<0.05). Serum albumin levels before and after nutritional therapies showed no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The incidence of pulmonary infection in PEG group was significantly decreased compared with that in nasal-feeding nutrition group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: PEG is an effective method for severe craniocerebral injury patients. It can not only provide enteral nutrition but also prevent pulmonary infection induced by esophageal reflux.