A Retrospective Analysis of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Application Experiences to Geriatric Patients in Palliative Care Unit

Palliative care is a treatment method that focuses on the patient and patient's family, aims to minimize the complaints caused by chronic diseases that cannot be treated, and increases life quality. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence defines palliative care as; the active, holistic care of patients with an advanced progressive illness. Management of pain and other symptoms and providing psychological, social, and spiritual support is paramount. Anorexia, weight loss, and sarcopenia are highly visible and distressing reminders of the life-limiting disease's influence on patients who require palliative care. Given this multifaceted and significant role, it is not unexpected that nutritional treatment method choices can be challenging.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a minimally-invasive endoscopic procedure that creates a passage from the patient's stomach to the abdominal wall via a feeding tube and provides a means of feeding if oral intake is not adequate. This safe and effective minimally-invasive option has been utilized in medical practice for over 40 years. PEG has advantages such as being minimally invasive, causing a low rate of complications and morbidity, and providing a long-lasting and safe feeding route. It is currently the chosen procedure for medium- and long-term enteral feeding in cases who need palliative care.

The application of PEG in geriatric-palliative care has not been well discussed. With the development of endoscopic procedures and PEG devices, we can perform this minimally invasive method more safely, even in challenging cases. We should discuss the indications of PEG in the field of palliative care of geriatric patients.

The presented study evaluated geriatric (> 65-year-old) palliative care patients to whom PEG applied at our institution.