Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other motor neuron disorders : official publication of the World Federation of Neurology, Research Group on Motor Neuron Diseases
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Amyotroph. Lateral Scler. Other Motor Neuron Disord. · Jun 2005
Comparative StudyComplications and survival following radiologically and endoscopically-guided gastrostomy in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
In the natural progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a state of malnutrition often develops, associated with reduced oral intake, caused by difficulties with swallowing, adequate salivation, and/or anorexia. The placement of a feeding tube should be considered at the point where patients demonstrate swallowing difficulty and/or alteration in nutritional status. The goal of this prospective work was to compare, in 50 patients having definite or probable ALS, the complications after endoscopic (PEG), or radiologically-guided gastrostomy (RIG) and to evaluate their effects on survival. ⋯ Kaplan-Meier survival curves from the date of gastrostomy placement were not different in univariate analysis (p=0.85). In multivariate analysis, survival was not different between one group and the other (p=0.28). The major interest of the RIG technique rests on its greater feasibility and on the possibility of utilizing it in ALS patients who have significant ventilatory compromise.