title: The impact of enteral feeding route on patient-reported long term swallowing outcome after chemoradiation for head and neck cancer.
abstract: Prospective evidence suggests that the selection of feeding tube during chemoradiation (CRT) indirectly affects swallowing outcome. This study explores the patients' perspective on long-term swallowing ability comparing these two feeding routes. Two groups, receiving nutritional supplementation via a prophylactic gastrostomy tube (group G) and by the oral route or via a nasogastric tube (group NG) during CRT, disease-free at ≥24 months following treatment were matched for age, site and stage of tumour. Patient-reported swallowing outcomes for both groups were assessed using the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI). Group G consisted of 16 patients and group NG of 15 patients. There was statistically significant difference in MDADI scores between the two groups in all domains of the questionnaire (p<0.001), with superior outcomes in group NG. Use of gastrostomy tubes during CRT conferred a worse swallowing outcome in the long term in this tightly matched cohort of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nashreen B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Oozeer
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Corsar
authors.forename: Raad John
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Glore
authors.forename: Susannah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Penney
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Vinidh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Paleri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D057566:Self Report; D016896:Treatment Outcome