Nutritional support teams increase percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy uptake in motor neuron disease

AIM:To examine factors influencing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy(PEG) uptake and outcomes in motor neuron disease(MND) in a tertiary care centre.METHODS:Case notes from all patients with a confirmed diagnosis of MND who had attended the clinic at the Repatriation General Hospital between January 2007 and January 2011 and who had since died,were audited.Data were extracted for demographics(age and gender),disease characteristics(date of onset,bulbar or peripheral predominance,complications),date and nature of discussion of gastrostomy insertion,nutritional status [weight measurements,body mass index(BMI)],date of gastrostomy insertion and subsequent progress(duration of survival) and quality of life(QoL) [Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised(ALSFRS-R)].In addition,the type of clinician initiating the discussion regarding gastrostomy was recorded as Nutritional Support Team(involved in providing nutrition input viz Gastroenterologist,Speech Pathologist,Dietitian) and other(involved in non-nutritional aspects of patient care).Factors affecting placement and outcomes including length of survival,change in weight and QoL were determined.RESULTS:Case records were available for all 86 patients(49 men,mean age at diagnosis 66.4 years).Thirty-eight patients had bulbar symptoms and 48 had peripheral disease as their presenting feature.Sixty-six patients reported dysphagia.Thirty-one patients had undergone gastrostomy insertion.The major indications for PEG placement were dysphagia and weight loss.Nine patients required immediate full feeding,whereas 17 patients initially used the gastrostomy to supplement oral intake,4 for medication administration and 1 for hydration.Initially the PEG regime met 73% ± 31% of the estimated total energy requirements,increasing to 87% ± 32% prior to death.There was stabilization of weight in patients undergoing gastrostomy [BMI at 3 mo(22.6 ± 2.2 kg/m 2) and 6 mo(22.5 ± 2.0 kg/m 2) after PEG placement compared to weight at the time of the procedure(22.5 ± 3.0 kg/m 2)].However,weight loss recurred in the terminal stages of the illness.There was a strong trend for longer survival from diagnosis among MND in PEG recipients with limb onset presentation compared to similar patients who did not undergo the procedure(P = 0.063).Initial discussions regarding PEG insertion occurred earlier after diagnosis when seen by nutrition support team(NST) clinicians compared to other clinicians.(5.4 ± 7.0 mo vs 11.9 ± 13.4 mo,P = 0.028).There was a significant increase in PEG uptake(56% vs 24%,P = 0.011) if PEG discussions were initiated by the NST staff compared to other clinicians.There was no change in the ALSFRS-R score in patients who underwent PEG(pre 34.1 ± 8.6 vs post 34.8 ± 7.4),although in non-PEG recipients there was a nonsignificant fall in this score(33.7 ± 7.9 vs 31.6 ± 8.8).Four patients died within one month of the procedure,4 developed bacterial site infection requiring antibiotics and 1 required endoscopic therapy for gastric bleeding.Less serious complications attributed to the procedure included persistent gastrostomy site discomfort,poor appetite,altered bowel function and bloating.CONCLUSION:Initial discussion with NST clinicians increases PEG uptake in MND.Gastrostomy stabilizes patient weight but weight loss recurs with advancing disease.

Modulation of individual components of gastric motor response to duodenal glucose

AIM:To evaluate individual components of the antro-pyloro-duodenal(APD)motor response to graded small intestinal glucose infusions in healthy humans.METHODS:APD manometry was performed in 15healthy subjects(12 male;40±5 years,body mass index 26.5±1.6 kg/m2)during four 20-min intraduodenal infusions of glucose at 0,0.5,1.0 and 1.5 kcal/min,in a randomised double-blinded fashion.Glucose solutions were infused at a rate of 1 mL/min and separated by 40-min"wash-out"period.Data are mean±SE.Inferential analyses are repeated measure analysis of variance with Bonferroni post-hoc testing.RESULTS:At 0 kcal/min frequency of pressure waves were:antrum(7.5±1.8 waves/20 min)and isolated pyloric pressure waves(IPPWs)(8.0±2.3 waves/20min)with pyloric tone(0.0±0.9 mmHg).Intraduodenal glucose infusion acutely increased IPPW frequency(P<0.001)and pyloric tone(P=0.015),and decreased antral wave frequency(P=0.007)in a dosedependent fashion.A threshold for stimulation was observed at 1.0 kcal/min for pyloric phasic pressure waves(P=0.002)and 1.5 kcal/min for pyloric tone and antral contractility.CONCLUSION:There is hierarchy for the activation of gastrointestinal motor responses to duodenal glucose infusion.An increase in IPPWs is the first response observed.

Lower esophageal sphincter relaxation is impaired in older patients with dysphagia

AIM: To characterize the effects of age on the mechanisms underlying the common condition of esophageal dysphagia in older patients, using detailed manometric analysis. METHODS: A retrospective case-control audit was performed on 19 patients aged ≥ 80 years (mean age 85 ± 0.7 year) who underwent a manometric study for dysphagia (2004-2009). Data were compared with 19 younger dysphagic patients (32 ± 1.7 years). Detailed manometric analysis performed prospectively included basal lower esophageal sphincter pressure (BLESP), pre-swallow and nadir LESP, esophageal body pressures and peristaltic duration, during water swallows (5 mL) in right lateral (RL) and upright (UR) postures and with solids. Data are mean ± SE; a P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Elderly dysphagic patients had higher BLESP than younger patients (23.4 ± 3.8 vs 14.9 ± 1.2 mmHg; P < 0.05). Pre-swallow LESP was elevated in the elderly in both postures (RL: 1 and 4 s P = 0.019 and P = 0.05; UR: P < 0.05 and P = 0.05) and solids (P < 0.01). In older patients, LES nadir pressure was higher with liquids (RL: 2.3 ± 0.6 mmHg vs 0.7 ± 0.6 mmHg, P < 0.05; UR: 3.5 ± 0.9 mmHg vs 1.6 ± 0.5 mmHg, P = 0.01) with shorter relaxation after solids (7.9 ± 1.5 s vs 9.7 ± 0.4 s, P = 0.05). No age-related differences were seen in esophageal body pressures or peristalsis duration. CONCLUSION: Basal LES pressure is elevated and swallow-induced relaxation impaired in elderly dysphagic patients. Its contribution to dysphagia and the effects of healthy ageing require further investigation.

Age-related impairment of esophagogastric junction relaxation and bolus flow time

AIM To investigate the functional effects of abnormal esophagogastric(EGJ) measurements in asymptomatic healthy volunteers over eighty years of age. METHODS Data from 30 young controls(11 M, mean age 37 ± 11 years) and 15 aged subjects(9 M, 85 ± 4 years) were compared for novel metrics of EGJ-function: EGJcontractile integral(EGJ-CI), "total" EGJ-CI and bolus flow time(BFT). Data were acquired using a 3.2 mm, 25 pressure(1 cm spacing) and 12 impedance segment(2 cm) solid-state catheter(Unisensor and MMS SolarGI system) across the EGJ. Five swallows each of 5 m L liquid(L) and viscous(V) bolus were analyzed. Mean values were compared using Student's t test for normally distributed data or Mann Whitney U-test when non-normally distributed. A P value < 0.05 was considered significant.RESULTS EGJ-CI at rest was similar for older subjects compared to controls. "Total" EGJ-CI, measured during liquid swallowing, was increased in older individuals when compared to young controls(O 39 ± 7 mm Hg.cm vs C 18 ± 3 mm Hg.cm; P = 0.006). For both liquid and viscous bolus consistencies, IRP4 was increased(L: 11.9 ± 2.3 mm Hg vs 5.9 ± 1.0 mm Hg, P = 0.019 and V: 14.3 ± 2.4 mm Hg vs 7.3 ± 0.8 mm Hg; P = 0.02) and BFT was reduced(L: 1.7 ± 0.3 s vs 3.8 ± 0.2 s and V: 1.9 ± 0.3 s vs 3.8 ± 0.2 s; P < 0.001 for both) in older subjects, when compared to young. A matrix of bolus flow and presence above the EGJ indicated reductions in bolus flow at the EGJ occurred due to both impaired bolus transport through the esophageal body(i.e., the bolus never reached the EGJ) and increased flow resistance at the EGJ(i.e., the bolus retained just above the EGJ).CONCLUSION Bolus flow through the EGJ is reduced in asymptomatic older individuals. Both ineffective esophageal bolus transport and increased EGJ resistance contribute to impaired bolus flow.