End-of-Life Feeding Decisions: A Preliminary Study of a Policy Requiring Palliative Care Consultation Prior to PEG Placement

For patients with advanced dementia or other terminal illnesses commonly associated with aging, difficulty swallowing and maintaining adequate hydration and nutrition is an expected complication and associated with end of life (EOL).1,2 Feeding tube placement via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) or percutaneous radiological gastrostomy is frequently performed for feeding difficulties near EOL, even though this practice is not supported by evidence.3–8 Multiple barriers may prevent early initiation of discussions about alternate feeding options.