PD268 - ADHERENCE TO PEG CARE STANDARDS AMONG NURSING STAFF IN A NEUROTRAUMA ICU: A CLINICAL AUDIT

PD268

ADHERENCE TO PEG CARE STANDARDS AMONG NURSING STAFF IN A NEUROTRAUMA ICU: A CLINICAL AUDIT

K. Senanayake^1,*

¹Clinical Nutrition, Post Graduate Institute of Medicine, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Rationale: Appropriate percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) care is essential to prevent avoidable complications and ensure safe long term enteral nutrition. This audit evaluated adherence of nursing staff in a neurotrauma intensive care unit (ICU) to evidence based PEG care practices.

Methods: A cross sectional clinical audit was conducted among nursing staff involved in PEG care in the Neurotrauma ICU at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka from August to September 2025. Data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire based on ESPEN 2021 recommendations. Compliance with predefined audit standards was assessed using descriptive statistics.

Results: Forty-five nurses participated. All (100%) reported monitoring the PEG exit site at least daily during the first postoperative week and 97.7% used classic aseptic wound care. Recommended cleaning solutions were widely used, with 93.3% reporting use of 0.9% sodium chloride. Routine daily dressing was reported by 75.6% and 88.9% continued classic aseptic wound care after stoma healing. Daily PEG tube rotation after stoma healing was practiced by 86.7%. However, only 44.4% reported weekly inward advancement of the PEG tube, and 46.7% were unaware of this procedure. Nursing practices related to assessment of PEG exit site complications showed variable compliance across different parameters, particularly for pain (64.4%), erythema (53.3%), and induration (37.7%). Overall, 68.9% rated themselves as aware of PEG care protocols. Four of eight audit standards were met.

Conclusion: Adherence to early postoperative PEG care practices was generally good, but important gaps remain in post healing care, comprehensive assessment, and staff knowledge. Targeted education, standardized protocols, and re-audit are needed to improve PEG care and reduce preventable complications.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared