Abstract
Bulbar involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is often related to a worse prognosis on account of the higher risk of pulmonary aspiration and undernutrition due to dysphagia. The aim of our study was to assess the effects of enteral feeding by percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in a long-term follow-up of ALS patients. We report the results of PEG in 31 ALS patients with bulbar involvement. The patients were observed at 3-monthly intervals over a period of 2 years after PEG. All the data were compared with those obtained from a control group of 35 ALS patients who refused PEG. Mortality did not differ significantly between the two groups of patients during the first 6 months of observation, whereas after this period it was lower in the PEG group. In the patients who had had PEG, the body mass index showed a mild but statistically significant improvement after tube insertion while in the control group it decreased significantly. The findings of this study demonstrate that PEG can improve survival in elderly and young ALS patients with bulbar involvement; it enhances their quality of life and helps their integration in their social and family surroundings. We think that PEG should be included symptomatic treatment of all ALS patients with bulbar involvement from the onset of symptoms.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 695-698 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Journal of Neurology |
| Volume | 242 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 1995 |
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Keywords
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Dysphagia
- Enteral feeding
- Undernutrition
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology
Cite this
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and enteral nutrition in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. / Mazzini, L.; Corrà, T.; Zaccala, M.; Mora, G.; Del Piano, M.; Galante, M.
In: Journal of Neurology, Vol. 242, No. 10, 10.1995, p. 695-698.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and enteral nutrition in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
AU - Mazzini, L.
AU - Corrà, T.
AU - Zaccala, M.
AU - Mora, G.
AU - Del Piano, M.
AU - Galante, M.
PY - 1995/10
Y1 - 1995/10
N2 - Bulbar involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is often related to a worse prognosis on account of the higher risk of pulmonary aspiration and undernutrition due to dysphagia. The aim of our study was to assess the effects of enteral feeding by percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in a long-term follow-up of ALS patients. We report the results of PEG in 31 ALS patients with bulbar involvement. The patients were observed at 3-monthly intervals over a period of 2 years after PEG. All the data were compared with those obtained from a control group of 35 ALS patients who refused PEG. Mortality did not differ significantly between the two groups of patients during the first 6 months of observation, whereas after this period it was lower in the PEG group. In the patients who had had PEG, the body mass index showed a mild but statistically significant improvement after tube insertion while in the control group it decreased significantly. The findings of this study demonstrate that PEG can improve survival in elderly and young ALS patients with bulbar involvement; it enhances their quality of life and helps their integration in their social and family surroundings. We think that PEG should be included symptomatic treatment of all ALS patients with bulbar involvement from the onset of symptoms.
AB - Bulbar involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is often related to a worse prognosis on account of the higher risk of pulmonary aspiration and undernutrition due to dysphagia. The aim of our study was to assess the effects of enteral feeding by percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in a long-term follow-up of ALS patients. We report the results of PEG in 31 ALS patients with bulbar involvement. The patients were observed at 3-monthly intervals over a period of 2 years after PEG. All the data were compared with those obtained from a control group of 35 ALS patients who refused PEG. Mortality did not differ significantly between the two groups of patients during the first 6 months of observation, whereas after this period it was lower in the PEG group. In the patients who had had PEG, the body mass index showed a mild but statistically significant improvement after tube insertion while in the control group it decreased significantly. The findings of this study demonstrate that PEG can improve survival in elderly and young ALS patients with bulbar involvement; it enhances their quality of life and helps their integration in their social and family surroundings. We think that PEG should be included symptomatic treatment of all ALS patients with bulbar involvement from the onset of symptoms.
KW - Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
KW - Dysphagia
KW - Enteral feeding
KW - Undernutrition
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0028845946&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0028845946&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/BF00866922
DO - 10.1007/BF00866922
M3 - Article
C2 - 8568533
AN - SCOPUS:0028845946
VL - 242
SP - 695
EP - 698
JO - Journal of Neurology
JF - Journal of Neurology
SN - 0340-5354
IS - 10
ER -