Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy as a multidisciplinary treatment in head and neck cancer

The objective of this study was to evaluate the results of using the percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in patients with head and neck cancer. Forty-six patients with head or neck cancer who required a PEG were evaluated over a 3-year period. The main indications were dysphagia and as a palliative treatment. The early perioperative and short and long term complications were assessed as well as the morbidity and mortality rate related to the procedure. In all cases, the PEG was successfully placed. Perioperative complications were observed in 6 (13%) cases, and the short and long term morbidity were seen in 4 (9%) cases. The side effects were considered as minor in all but 1 case, which required open surgery to remove the gastric tube because its bumper had become fully imbedded in the gastric wall after a 1-year period. No patient died from the procedure. PEG is an easy, quick and safe technique for the short and long term nutrition in head and neck cancer patients, who need a combined treatment of chemotherapy, surgery and/or radiotherapy and in which complications related to any of these treatment were expected. PEG should be placed routinely if enteral feeding with a gastric tube is expected to be longer than 3 weeks.