Comparison of Esophageal Acidity between Nasogastric Tube Feeding and Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tube Feeding in Brain Injured Patients

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the change of esophageal acidity when feeding via nasogastric tube is replaced by via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube. METHOD: Fourteen patients with brain injury participated in the study. 24-hour pH monitoring was performed during nasogastric tubal feeding. After PEG tube insertion, 24-hour pH monitoring was followed up. There was no difference in medication affecting to esophageal acidity in same patient at both pH monitorings. The results of pH monitorings analyzed with Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: The total time below pH 4.00 was 135.43+/-190.69 minutes for the patients with nasogastric tube and 25+/-42.74 minutes for PEG tube (p=0.013). The numbers of acid reflux was 42.07+/-47.03 and 21.93+/-22.77 respectively (p=0.074). Of the 14 patients, 9 had acid reflux in nasogastric tubal feeding, which was improved in all 9 patients after PEG. Of the 14 patients, 5 had no acid reflux in nasogastric tubal feeding but 3 of the 5 developed new acid reflux in PEG tubal feeding. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostmy tube feeding was better for acid reflex control. But careful observation is needed after PEG because PEG can develop new acid reflux.