Routine intragastric feeding following traumatic brain injury is safe and well tolerated.

BACKGROUND: Delayed gastric emptying following traumatic brain injury (TBI) has led some to advocate jejunal feeding. Our purpose was to review our experience with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and intragastric feeding in TBI patients to assess safety and effectiveness.

METHODS: All patients on a TBI clinical pathway at our institution were targeted for early PEG. After PEG, standard enteral nutrition was initiated. Abdominal examination and gastric residual volumes were used to assess tolerance.

RESULTS: There were 118 patients with moderate to severe TBI. The average age was 36 years. Mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 25. Enteral access was obtained and intragastric feeding was initiated on day 3. 6. Intragastric feeding was tolerated without complication in 111 of 114 (97%) patients. Five patients aspirated, but had no evidence of intolerance prior to the event.

CONCLUSIONS: PEG provided reliable enteral access in moderate to severe TBI patients. Intragastric feeding was well tolerated with a low complication rate (4%).