An evaluation of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding in AIDS.

Between October 1991 and October 1993, 17 AIDS patients (14 intravenous drug users, 3 sexually acquired) were commenced on percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding in St James's Hospital. Indications were progressive weight loss related to severe anorexia, persistent oesophageal candidiasis (5) and absence of gag reflex (1). Two patients requested PEG tube removal after one week because of crampy abdominal pain without peritonitis. Five patients died from AIDS related infections within 6 weeks of PEG insertion. Ten patients were followed up for > 2 months (mean 5.2 months, range 2.5-15.5 months). In these 10 patients, 1 patient developed a PEG site infection which responded to topical antibiotics. There were no other complications. There was a significant (P < 0.001) increase in energy and protein intake at 2 months. Variant degrees of weight gain occurred in all patients (mean 2.6 kg) (P < 0.01). Small but significant increases in other anthropometric variables occurred. Patients who died within 6 weeks of PEG insertion were older, and had a lower serum albumin than the group who survived > 2 months (P < 0.01). A self-administered questionnaire demonstrated that the majority of patients found PEG feeding acceptable and preferable to nasogastric (NG) feeding.