Replacement Gastrostomy Tubes: Technical and Clinical Comparison of Five Commercial Models

Multiple models of replacement tubes for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy are available in the market, however durability is variable. In a prospective randomized study, five commercial devices available in the market will be tested in 20 consecutive patients each,in patients submitted to long-term outpatient nutritional support. Tube performance will be observed during 6 months and durability will be assessed by Kaplan-Meier curves as well as Cox regression analysis.It is hypothesized that tube design and material will influence outcome.This study is important because tube dysfunction and unscheduled changes are expensive troubles that disrupt the nutritional protocol and are responsible for multiple inconveniences to the patient and the caretaker.

Inclusion criteria

• Adults undergoing long-term home enteral nutrition via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy due to neurologic conditions or dysphagia.
• registered at the outpatient endoscopy service
• clinical stable and with the possibility of returning for scheduled visits
• expected duration of enteral feeding > 6 months

Exclusion criteria

• Sepsis,
• shock,
• coma,
• other types of digestive access (surgical gastrostomy, jejunostomy)
• terminal disease,
• lack of cooperation,
• refusal to participate in the protocol