Gastroenterology Research, ISSN 1918-2805 print, 1918-2813 online, Open Access
Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, Gastroenterol Res and Elmer Press Inc
Journal website https://www.gastrores.org

Short Communication

Volume 15, Number 5, October 2022, pages 263-267


Safety of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Placement in Patients With SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Table

Table 1. Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Participants
 
COVID-19 (N = 36)Non-COVID-19 (N = 104)P-value
COVID-19: coronavirus disease 2019; SD: standard deviation; PEG: percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy; IV: intravenous; ASA: American Society of Anesthesiology.
Age, mean ± SD63.69 ± 4.7864.95 ± 2.70.32
Gender0.21
  Male22 (61.1%)54 (51.9%)
  Female14 (38.9%)50 (48.1%)
Body mass index0.0229
  > 3015 (41.6%)23 (22.1%)
  < 3021 (58.4%)81 (77.9%)
    Healthy: 18.5 to < 257 (19.4%)42 (40.3%)
    Overweight: 25.0 to < 309 (25%)24 (23%)
    Underweight: < 18.55 (13.8%)15 (14.4%)
Anticoagulation0.000207
  None5 (13.8%)51 (49%)
  On therapeutic or prophylactic anticoagulation31 (86.1%)53 (51%)
    Prophylactic enoxaparin or heparin12 (33.3%)33 (31.7%)
    IV heparin14 (38.8%)9 (8.6%)
    Apixaban2 (5.5%)7 (6.7%)
    Warfarin00
    Therapeutic enoxaparin3 (8.3%)2 (1.9%)
    Bivalirudin01
    Rivaroxaban01
Antiplatelets0.14
  None22 (61.1%)77 (74%)
  On antiplatelet therapy14 (38.8%)27 (25.9%
    Aspirin1322
    Clopidogrel13
    Ticagrelor01
    Aspirin and clopidogrel01
Number of comorbidities per patient2.25 ± 0.442.36 ± 0.320.35
Tracheostomy31 (86%)42 (40.3%)0.000001
Indication for PEG tube
  Prolonged tube feeding (> 2 weeks) while on mechanical ventilation due to acute respiratory failure requiring tracheostomy32 (88%)9 (8.6%)
  Dysphagia secondary to neurological conditions which include ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, refractory recurrent seizures, neuromuscular diseases (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myasthenia gravis) or severe cognitive impairment from dementia4 (11.1%)93 (89.4%)
  Oropharyngeal or esophageal cancer02 (1.9%)
Serum albumin2.4 g/dL2.77 g/dL0.02
ASA grade0.054
  312 (33.3%)52(50%)
  424 (66.6%)48(46.1%)
Complication rate3 (8.3%)17 (16.3%)0.28
  Melena10
  Bleeding ulcer under PEG12
  Ileus10
  Clogged07
  Hematemesis01
  Dislodged04
  Skin granuloma01
  Cellulitis02
Success of PEG tube0.44
  Successful35 (97.2%)96 (92.3%)
  Removed/exchanged due to a complication within 28 days of placement1 (2.8%)8 (7.7%)