A Multidisciplinary Team Approach Reduces PEG Site Complications

Education provided to patients and their family on how to care for the percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube is limited and varies widely. This results in PEG-site and tube complications, patient discomfort and increased health care utilization. In addition, a lack of practitioner expertise and variability in practice can affect timely treatment of PEG site complications. A multidisciplinary team approach was developed to care for the PEG-J in this patient population. The aim of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of our multidisciplinary team in reducing PEG site complications and health care utilization.  

Consecutive PEG-J patients (n=33) assessed by the multidisciplinary team approach between October 2018 and September 2019 were provided standardized education on the routine care and maintenance of PEG-J site complications. This systematic proactive approach was introduced to determine its impact on PEG-site complications and health care utilization. 

The systematic multidisciplinary proactive approach: (1) eliminated all unscheduled, urgent contact with health care providers by patients, and (2) decreased the incidence of moderate to severe PEG site complications.

An interprofessional multidisciplinary proactive approach: (1) reduces PEG site complications and urgent health care utilization, and (2) resulted in a lower incidence of moderate or severe classification of PEG site complications and unscheduled clinic visits.

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