Table 1.

Characteristics of patients in the study [median (range)]

	PEG (n = 16)	Non-PEG (n = 20)	Control (n = 11)	P
Age	53 (20 - 82)	58 (25 - 85)	56 (34 - 76)	NS
Sex (M/F)	10/6	12/8	7/4	NS
Weight (kg)	75 (55 - 85)	79 (56 - 95)	83(68 - 90)	NS
APACHE II	17 (12 - 23)	17 (9 - 28)	15 (5 - 26)
Primary disease
Head injury	7	5	1
Spinal cord injury	3	4	-
Multiple trauma	5	8	3	NS
Stroke	4	2	5
COPD	5	4	3
Post-operative	4	3	-
resuscitation
Days of MV and NGT	25 (19 - 36)	27 (17 - 56)	24 (12 – 32)	NS
Days of VAP before study	14 (8 - 19)	13 (4 - 36)	-	NS