Outcomes of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) in HIV patients

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) insertion, a routine procedure for long-term enteral nutrition, serves as a crucial intervention for patients incapable of tolerating oral intake or meeting adequate nutritional requirements. PEG placement carrier complication of bleeding and infection. Impact of PEG tubes on the 30-day and long term mortality in HIV patients is unknown. Despite the ongoing utilization of PEG in HIV patients, a comprehensive exploration of its outcomes are yet to be explored. We intended to study the impact of HIV positive status on one month post-PEG mortality and review other PEG related complication. We reviewed all the PEG placed in our institution and compared the complication and mortality outcome between patient who are HIV positive and HIV negative. Our study was comprised of the 639 PEG placed on 461 patients, from which 85 patients (n = 18%) with HIV positive. Our findings reveal a statistically significant increase (p-value 0.001) in post-PEG insertion site bleeding in the HIV group (15.3%) compared to the non-HIV group (4.5%), with no discernible disparity in the utilization of anti-coagulation or anti-platelet agents between the two groups. Notably, the 1-year mortality rate in the HIV group stands at 37.6% (p < 0.001), contrasting sharply with the non-HIV group's rate of 17.8%. This study underscores the need for heightened vigilance and tailored management strategies when considering PEG procedures in the context of HIV, given the observed elevated bleeding risks and increased 1-year mortality rates in this patient population. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying factors contributing to these outcomes, facilitating the development of targeted interventions to optimize the care of HIV patients undergoing PEG placement.