Noninvasive ventilation allows gastrostomy tube placement in patients with advanced ALS.

Abstract

The use of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation for ventilatory support during percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement is described in five patients with advanced ALS, four having significant bulbar symptoms. No respiratory complications occurred in any of these patients, who were considered to be at high risk for PEG placement because of severe ventilatory impairment and might not otherwise have been considered for this procedure.