ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neuromuscular disease that causes muscle weakness with respiratory and swallowing dysfunction, eventually leading to death. Permanent enteral feeding is indicated in almost all patients. A percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube is considered the first choice, usually performed under conscious sedation (intravenous midazolam). Guidelines are very cautious with respect to sedation in ALS because of the risk for respiratory complications. In our tertiary referral hospital, conscious sedation has been used for many years.Our aim was to review 30-day complications in PEG performed under conscious sedation in ALS patients (without noninvasive positive pressure ventilation during the procedure). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review, including all ALS patients undergoing PEG under conscious sedation from October 2009 to April 2016, was performed. RESULTS: Analysis included 45 (44% men) patients receiving intravenous midazolam sedation (mean dose 5 mg) during PEG placement, age 36-91 years (mean: 68.7 years). Forced vital capacity (FVC) was 24-116% (mean 68%), of which mild to moderate dysfunction (FVC 50-69%) was present in 42.2% of patients and (very) severe dysfunction (FVC <50%) in 8.8%. No respiratory complications (e.g. aspiration pneumonia) were observed. Other complications, for example, infection, bleeding and peritonitis occurred in, respectively, 8.9, 2.2 and 0%. Mean survival after PEG placement was 13.4 months (range: 1-45 months). CONCLUSION: Conscious sedation during PEG insertion in ALS patients did not lead to respiratory complications or to an increase in other complications. Our data indicate that conscious sedation can be used safely in ALS patients with mild to moderate pulmonary dysfunction.
Subject(s)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/therapy , Conscious Sedation/adverse effects , Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/adverse effects , Gastrostomy/adverse effects , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/complications , Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/methods , Female , Gastrostomy/methods , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Survival Rate , Vital CapacityABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the number and nature of complications during the acute phase following traumatic spinal cord injury and to explore the relationship between number of complications and length of hospital stay. DESIGN: Multi-centre prospective cohort study. PATIENTS: A total of 54 patients with traumatic spinal cord injury, referred to 3 level 1 trauma centres in The Netherlands. METHODS: The number and nature of complications were registered weekly from September 2009 to December 2011. RESULTS: A total of 32 patients (59%) had 1 or more medical complications. The most common complications were pressure ulcers (17 patients, 31%) and pulmonary complications (15 patients, 28%). PATIENTS with 3 or 4 complications had significantly (p < 0.01) longer hospital stays (58.5 [32.5] days) compared with those with 1 or 2 complications (33.1 [14.8] days) or no complications (21.5 [15.6] days). CONCLUSION: Complications, particularly pressure ulcers and pulmonary complications, occurred frequently during the acute phase following traumatic spinal cord injury. More complications were associated with longer hospital stays. Despite the existence of protocols, more attention is needed to prevent pressure ulcers during the acute phase following traumatic spinal cord injury for patients in The Netherlands.
