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letter
. 2020 Nov 17;33(1):209. doi: 10.1111/den.13873

Table 1.

Advantages and disadvantages of endoscopic PEG tube placement for COVID‐19 patients

Advantages Disadvantages

  1. Obtain a safe route of enteral nutrition without naso/oropharyngeal complications

  2. Could aid in discharge planning

  3. Nutritional improvement, functional recovery with rehabilitation in COVID‐19 patients

  4. Advantage of providing medication and volume repletion through enteral route

  5. Preferred method of obtaining enteral access in patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation and nasal or oropharyngeal injury

  1. Adverse events during PEG tube placement could further prolong hospital stay. However, very low rate.

  2. Data on risks of viral transmission to endoscopy staff, safety in COVID‐19 patients, technical aspects, cost‐effectiveness and duration of feeding is scarce

  3. Use of antibiotics and holding of anticoagulation prior to the procedure could potentially alter the course of COVID‐19 infection

  4. COVID‐19 patients with secondary infections should be evaluated for risk of invasive procedure like PEG tube placement

Advantages, disadvantages of PEG tube placement. Percutaneous gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19).