title: Nasogastric and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube use in advanced head and neck cancer patients: a comparative study.
abstract: To compare the efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and nasogastric (NGT) tube administration of enteral nutrition in head and neck cancer patients undergoing curative treatment, the authors conducted a prospective study to compare nutritional outcomes, complications, and patient satisfaction. PEG patients sustained significantly less reduction in nutritional parameters, measured at 6 weeks post insertion, as compared with NGT patients. There was also a statistically significant difference between the two groups in patient's quality of life scores and complications. Comparison could not be done at 6 months because all patients were converted to PEG feeding due to the earlier findings. The authors conclude that PEG is more efficacious than NGT as a channel for nutrition in advanced head and neck cancer patients over a short duration.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Anjana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sadasivan
authors.forename: Bini
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Faizal
authors.forename: Madhumita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000379:methods*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013997:Time Factors