Outpatient percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in selected head and neck cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a relatively simple and safe method of providing access for enteral feeding. The procedure is usually performed in hospitalized patients. The feasibility of PEG as an outpatient procedure has not been well estabilished in the medical literature. The main objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility and safety of PEG as an outpatient procedure in a selected group of head and neck cancer patients.


METHODS
In this prospective cohort study, head and neck cancer subjects in good clinical condition were selected and enrolled in a close follow-up protocol of outpatient PEG. The clinical and demographic variables evaluated were age, gender, early complications, and timing of PEG.


RESULTS
Of a total of 136 PEG patients, 129 (94.8%) were discharged 3 h after the procedure. Three were excluded from the study and four were hospitalized because of moderate abdominal pain. The rate of minor complications was 17.6% (local pain, 7.4%; wound infection, 6.6%; abdominal pain, 2.9%; hematoma, 0.7%). Major complications occurred in 2.2% of the procedures (buried bumper syndrome, 1.5%; early tube displacement, 0.7%). There was no mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Ambulatory placement of gastrostomy tubes is viable and safe in head and neck cancer patients in good clinical condition. The early complication rates are similar to those described for hospitalized patients. Unnecessary admissions are avoided and costs of hospitalization are reduced.
de Souza e Mello
Gustavo Francisco
GF
Department of Digestive Endoscopy, Cancer Hospital I, National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. gmello@inca.gov.br
Lukashok
Hannah Pitanga
HP
Meine
Gilmara Coelho
GC
Small
Isabele Avila
IA
de Carvalho
Roberto Luiz Teixeira
RL
Guimarães
Denise Peixoto
DP
Mansur
Gilberto Reynaldo
GR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000379:methods*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult