Percutaneous gastrostomy in oncologic patients: analysis of results and expansion of the indications.
BACKGROUND
Percutaneous gastrostomy is generally performed for permanent enteral nutrition or gastric decompression.


METHODS
In our series of oncologic patients, percutaneous gastrostomy was also used temporarily in some patients for enteral nutrition while awaiting functional recovery of swallowing, in preparation for surgery, or for the treatment of fistulas in the upper digestive tract. Fifty-one procedures were performed in 50 patients: 42 for feeding, eight for decompression, and one for transgastric drainage of a duodenal fistula.


RESULTS
Of the 35 patients treated for permanent enteral nutrition, four are still alive, with a total survival time of 2,167 days. In three patients, gastrostomy was performed for temporary feeding and was removed once the ability to swallow was restored. In four patients, it was created to restore metabolic balance before surgery. In the patient with a duodenal fistula, healing was achieved in 19 days. The seven patients in whom the procedure was performed for decompression survived for a mean of 19.2 days. There was only one major procedure-related complication (peritonitis).


CONCLUSIONS
Percutaneous gastrostomy is a safe, low-cost method that allows the patient to maintain essential nutrition without the discomfort of a nasogastic tube and therefore warrants wider and earlier use. We feel that its application should also be extended to temporary feeding of patients about to undergo long courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which can lead to severe deterioration of nutritional status.
Cozzi
G
G
Gastrointestinal Radiology Operative Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
Gavazzi
C
C
Civelli
E
E
Milella
M
M
Salvetti
M
M
Scaperrotta
G
G
Bozzetti
F
F
Severini
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004378:Duodenal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies