Aims: Since its description in 1980, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy has become the modality of choice for providing enteral access to patients who require long-term enteral nutrition. This study aimed to evaluate current indications and complications associated with PEG feeding. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all patients who referred to our endoscopic unit of the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of the Medical Center University of Sarajevo for PEG tube placement over a period of 7 years. Medical records of 359 patients dealing with PEG tube placement were reviewed to assess indications, technical success, complications and the need for repeat procedures. Results: The indications for enteral feeding tube placement were malignancy in 44% (n=158), of which 61% (n=97) patients were suffering of head and neck cancer and 39% (n=61) of other malignancy. Central nervous disease was the indication in 48.7 % (n=175) of patients. Cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) accounted for 20% (n=73), head injury for 16% (n=59) and cerebral palsy for 11% (n=38). In 6.13% (n=22) of patients minor complications occur which included wound infection (0.8%), inadvertent PEG removal (2.5%) and tube blockage (1.1%). 11 patients experienced major complications including hemorrhage, tube migration and perforation. There were no deaths related to PEG procedure placement and the overall 30-day mortality rate due to primary disease was 15.8%. Oral feeding was resumed in 23% of the patients and the tube was removed subsequently after 6 -12 months. Conclusions: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is a save and minimally invasive endoscopic procedure associated with a low morbidity (9.2%) rate, easy to follow-up and to replace when blockage occurs. Over a seven-year period we noticed an increase of 63% in PEG placement at our department.

The role of ferritin in fibrogenesis of liver parenchyma in patients with alcoholic liver disease has been investigated in previous studies. Ferritin was shown to be an indirect marker of ferum deposition in liver parenchyma in alcohol liver disease. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease as well as the influence of NO on iron (ferritin) metabolism in patients with alcoholic liver disease. Serum concentrations of NO and iron markers (iron, total iron binding capacity, ferritin) were measured in 30 male patients (aged 20-60 years) with alcoholic liver disease, as well as from a control group (30 male patients (aged 20-60 years) without liver disease). NO concentration was detected by measuring production of nitrates and nitrites using classical colorimetric Griess reactions. There was a statistically significant increase in serum NO concentration in patients with alcoholic liver disease compared to the control group (mean +/- SEM; 41,2 +/- 25,3 vs. 28,9 +/- 12,3 mmol/dm3, respectively; p<0,03). Similarly, serum iron levels (18,7 +/- 8,2 vs. 13,2 +/- 10,2 g/100 cm3, respectively; p<0,03) and serum total iron binding capacity (51,3 +/- 13,9 vs. 41,4 +/- 11,4 micromol/dm3, respectively; p<0,005) were also significantly higher in patients with alcoholic liver disease compared to control patients. The serum concentration of ferritin was 27% higher in patients with alcoholic liver disease than in the control group; however this was not statistically significant (283,2 +/- 291,0 vs. 222,9 +/- 252,0 g, respectively; p<0,4). There was no correlation between NO and ferritin in the investigated groups. These results suggest a possible role of NO and iron in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease. NO and iron may be used as non-invasive predictors of liver damage. Also the role of iron in sera, and its deposition in liver parenchyma, could be used in clinical practice, especially in regards to assessing the fibrogenesis of liver parenchyma induced by ferritin.