Revisiting the Use of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tubes in Patients with Advanced Dementia

Mr. Smith is an 85-year-old nursing home patient who has suffered from dementia for the past eight years. He has been bed bound and uncommunicative for the last six months. He was admitted with aspiration pneumonia three times in the past year. Over the last few months he has lost weight due to poor dietary intake and has developed a decubitus ulcer. Mr. Smith’s family inquires about the advantages and disadvantages of the placement of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube to help improve his weight loss.