Introduction: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the main accepted method for long-term tube feeding. The aim of this study is to investigate the risk factors associated with early mortality after PEG. Methods: It is a retrospective survival analysis in a tertiary-level hospital. We reviewed the medical records of 277 patients with PEG placement. The data were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariable Cox proportional regression models were also built to test the effects of PEG on mortality. Results: A total of 277 patients who submitted to PEG were studied. One-hundred and sixty (58%) were female, mean age of 73.3 ± 15.7 years. Ninety-three patients (33.6%) had diabetes mellitus and 165 (59.6%) had blood hypertension. The indications for PEG placement were chronic neurologic dysphagia in 247 (89.5%) patients and tumors and other diseases in 29 (10.5%). The 30 days proportional mortality probability rate was 13%. In a multivariate Cox proportional regression model, preoperative ICU hospitalization (HR 1.79, 95% CI 1.36–2.36, P = 0.000) and hemoglobin (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.85–0.98, P = 0.015) were predictors of early mortality. Conclusion: In patients who had underwent PEG tube insertion for long-term nutrition, anemia and previous ICU admission were predictors of mortality at four weeks. These factors may guide physicians to discourage the indication for PEG.

Objective: To analyze the frequency, body topographic local and the instruments used in women with violent death in the city of Recife and the metropolitan area and in the years from 2000 to 2009. Methods: Data collection was performed at the Institute of Forensic Medicine Persivo Antonio Cunha-PE from March to October 2010. Through a study, of chronological approach, necropsy reports in women residing in the Metropolitan Region of Recife-PE in the years 2000 to 2009 were selected. We analyzed the frequency of deaths, the type of instruments used and the topographic location of the lesion. Statistical analysis used the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, at the significance level of 5%. Results: The frequency distribution showed that the homicide was the 1st reason and represented 36.2% of the total mortality. The accident was the second most common cause with 30.2% followed by the suicides with 5.7%. Regarding the body topographic location, polytrauma presented 29.1% of the occurrences followed by the craniofacial complex with 26.3%. Within the complex craniofacial, the head was the most affected with 27.4%. The face corresponded to 4.2% of the cases. The type of instrument of more incidence was the blunt with 36%, followed by blunt-stabbing with 27%. Conclusion: The homicides demonstrate the magnitude of external causes as cause of premature death among women. The head and neck region is closely linked to the cases of violence against women.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the main accepted method for long-term tube feeding. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors associated with early mortality after PEG. METHODS: Retrospective survival analysis in a tertiary-level center in Recife, Brazil. We reviewed the medical records of 150 patients with PEG placement. The data were analysed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariable Cox proportional regression models were also built to test the effects of PEG on mortality. RESULTS: A total of 150 patients who submitted to PEG were studied (70 male). Of the participants, 87 (58%) had blood hypertension; 51 (34%) patients had diabetes; 6 (4%) patients had chronic renal disease; and 6 (4%) had malignancy. Chronic neurodegenerative diseases were the more common clinical indication for PEG. The 30-day and 60-day proportional mortality probability rates were 11.05% and 15.34% respectively. A multivariate Cox proportional regression model, haemoglobin (HR 4.39, 95%CI 1.30-14.81, P=0.017) and pre-procedure UCI staying (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.50-0.87, P=0.004) were significant predictors of early mortality.A haemoglobin cut-off value of 10.05 g/dL was shown to have a sensibility of 82.6% (61.2% to 95% CI) and an acceptable sensitivity of 59.0 (50.6% to68.6% CI), and a likelihood ratio of 2.06 for eight weeks mortality. CONCLUSION: In patients who had been subjected to the PEG procedure for long-term nutrition, low haemoglobin, pre-procedure intensive care unit internment or both are associated with the risk of early mortality.

Artigo de opinião não apresenta resumo