Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy in Patients withTumours of Head and Neck - Five Years of Experience

Overview

Patients with tumours of head and neck represent a group at high risk for thedevelopment of malnutrition already at the time of establishing the diagnosis. The subsequentmultimodal therapy frequently follows to deterioration of the already unfavorable nutritionalcondition, which is the result of combined swallowing difficulties after extensive surgical interventionsin this are and unfavorable effect of subsequent radio/chemotherapy. Nasogastric tube wasuntil recently the preferred tool at many workplaces as a single form to provide the nutrition.The authors describe their five years of experience in the application of percutaneous endoscopicgastroscopy as amethod for adequate provision postoperation nutrition in 50 patients with tumoursof head and neck. They discuss specific problems, advantages and limitations of the method. In thecase of extensive operation intervention with planned subsequent radiotherapy the authors preferpercutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy immediately succeeding the resection of primary tumour.

Key words:
percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, tumours of head and neck, malnutrition,dysphagia.