Reasons of PEG failure to eliminate gastroesophageal reflux in mechanically ventilated patients

Table 1 Patients’ demographic data

	RESP group (n = 17)	N-RESP group (n = 12)	P value
Age, years	55 (32-65)	65 (49.5-68)	NS
Sex (M/F)	(12/5)	(5/7)	NS
Weight, kg	75 (70-80)	77 (68.5-80)	NS
APACHE II	17 (15-20)	15.5 (13.5-22.5)	NS
Indication for PEG placement
Cerebrovascular attack	9	5
Neuromuscular disorder	4	2
COPD-pneumonia	2	2
Head trauma	2	3
Days on NGT	29.5 (25-38)	45 (25-53)	NS
Weaning, days	10 (6.5-14)	13 (12-20)	NS
Outcome (survived/died)	(14/3)	(7/5)	NS

Parameters are expressed in median (range). APACHE: Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation; COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Table 2 Comparison of esophageal manometry findings between the RESP and N-RESP groups

	RESP group (n = 17)	N-RESP group (n = 12)	P value
Gastroesophageal reflux GER (%)
Baseline	9.4 (7.4-13.5)	11.7 (7.6-15)	NS
7th post-PEG day	2.5 (0.6-3.8)	8.1 (7.4-9.2)	< 0.001b
No. of reflux episodes/h
Baseline	8 (3-10)	2.9 (2-4.4)	0.020a
7th post-PEG day	1.3 (0.5-2)	2.9 (2.3-3.4)	0.002a
No. of reflux episodes > 5 min
Baseline	7 (4-9)	3.5 (2-6)	0.045a
7th post-PEG day	1 (0-2)	3 (1.5-5)	0.003a

Parameters are expressed in median (range).

^aP < 0.05,

^bP < 0.001.

Table 3 Endoscopic and histological data of the groups studied

	RESP group (n = 17)	N-RESP group (n = 12)	P value
Endoscopic esophagitis1	1 (1-2)	2 (1-3)	0.031a
A	11	4
B	6	4
C	0	4
D	0	0
GEFV2	2 (1-3)	3 (3-4)	0.020a
Grade I	8	1
Grade II	2	1
Grade III	5	6
Grade IV	2	4
Histology	1 (1-2)	2 (1-2.5)	NS
Grade 0	2	1
Grade I	8	3
Grade II	6	5
Grade III	1	3

¹LA classification;

²GEFV: Gastroesophageal flap valve (grading after Hill classification[16]).

^aP < 0.05.