Impact of a quality assurance program on gastrointestinal endoscopy.

The impact of a quality assurance committee on documentation and use of gastrointestinal endoscopy was assessed. The committee, fulfilling Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations criteria, performed retrospective (1984-1985) and prospective (1986-1988) reviews of all endoscopies. Criteria were developed from American College of Physicians and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guidelines. All reviews of procedures that were questioned were returned to physicians for clarification. After reconsideration of the response, procedures were judged either justified or unjustified. There has been significant improvement in the quality of endoscopy reporting and documentation. The rate of questioned procedures decreased from 21.6% (95% confidence interval (CI), 20.1-23.1) in 1984-1985 to 9.2% (95% CI, 7.9-10.4) (P less than 0.01) in 1988. Improvement in use was reflected in the significant decrease in the rate of unjustified procedures from 8.2% (95% CI, 7.2-9.2) in 1984-1985 to 1.5% (95% CI, 1.0-2.0) (P less than 0.01) in 1988. Most importantly, this process curtailed the previously noted 10% annual increase in the number of endoscopic procedures (P less than 0.01).

Complications of jejunostomy tube feeding in nursing facility patients.

Maintaining nutrition in patients who are unable to eat is difficult. Jenunostomy feeding has been recommended, especially for patients known to aspirate, but few data are available regarding its efficacy in the nursing home setting. We performed a retrospective review of 44 consecutive jejunostomy fed patients in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) to determine the incidence of complications, particularly aspiration pneumonia. Among them, 81.8% experienced at least one complication, most frequently tube dislodgement or obstruction. In 52.2%, intervention by the physician was required before feeding could be resumed. The incidence of aspiration pneumonia was 15.9%: 31.6% in patients who had previously aspirated and 4% in those without previous aspiration (p less than 0.05). We conclude that jejunostomy feeding does not protect against aspiration pneumonia in patients known to aspirate, and that the high overall complication rate makes its use problematic in the SNF setting.

Aspiration pneumonia in nursing home patients fed via gastrostomy tubes.

Aspiration pneumonia is among the most serious complication of gastrostomy tube feedings. However, few data are available from the nursing home setting where tube feedings are used for extended periods. We reviewed 109 nursing facility charts in order to determine the incidence of, and risk factors for, aspiration pneumonia: 22.9% of gastrostomy tube-fed patients aspirated. A history of recent previous pneumonia was found in 40.7% of those who subsequently developed aspiration pneumonia. This was the only risk factor related (p less than 0.05) to subsequent aspiration pneumonia. No association was found with age, mental status, or the method of enteral formula administration (continuous vs. intermittent infusion). We conclude that patients with a previous history of pneumonia are a high risk group in which alternative forms of enteral alimentation (i.e., jejunostomy feedings) should be explored.

Tube feeding. Providing the most nutrition with the least discomfort.

In patients who cannot or will not eat, nutrition can be provided by enteral feeding through a gastrostomy or jejunostomy tube (or a nasogastric tube if use is to be brief). Endoscopic placement of tubes is increasing in popularity. Numerous enteral formulas have been devised to provide complete nutrition in a variety of circumstances, and special formulas are available for patients with malabsorption or hepatic, renal, or lung disease. Mechanical, metabolic, and gastrointestinal complications of enteral feeding are possible, but taking precautions by ordering specific techniques can reduce the risk.