title: Safety and effectiveness of percutaneous fluoroscopic gastrostomy in cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous fluoroscopic gastrostomy (PFG) in cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed the success rate, complication rate, and patient outcomes of PFG performed during a 15-month period in our hospital. The Cope type 10-French and 12-French self-retaining catheters were used for gastrostomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 113 PFG procedures requested during the study period, 112 (99.1%) were performed successfully; one procedure was cancelled because the nasogastric tube could not be passed through the obstructed esophagus. Thirty-day follow-ups were obtained for 92.0% of the procedures. Of the patients with at least 30 days of follow-up, eight (7.8%) died, but only two deaths (1.9%) were procedure-related. Major complications, including peritonitis and severe wound infection, occurred after eight procedures (7.8%). Minor complications, including superficial wound infection, tube fracture, leakage, severe pain, mild hemorrhage, and tube migration, occurred after 23 procedures (22.3%). The severity of pneumoperitoneum was significantly associated with the frequency of complications (p < 0.05). After placement of the gastrostomy, 68% of the patients maintained or increased their initial body weight; 28% lost 10% or less of their body weight; and 4% lost more than 10% of their body weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PFG appears to be effective and relatively safe for long-term nutritional support in cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Z H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: V P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Soong
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies