title: Repeat PEG placement is safe for head and neck cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) provides durable nutritional access for head and neck (HNC) patients as they undergo treatment. Continuing treatment of HNC may necessitate repeat PEG placement. We report our outcomes with repeat PEG compared to first-time PEG in HNC patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review identified morbidity, mortality, and possible risk factors for complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Repeat PEG tubes constituted 17% of PEG procedures. Morbidity was rare and similar complication rates were found between the initial PEG and repeat PEG groups (2% vs. 11%, p=0.131). There were no mortalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Repeat PEG plays an important role in the care of HNC patients and can be considered a safe means to establish durable enteric feeding access for patients with recurrent cancer or treatment complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA; Division of Surgical Oncology, Columbia, MO, USA; Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, Columbia, MO, USA. Electronic address: nichollm@health.missouri.edu.
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Nicholl
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.affiliation: Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, Columbia, MO, USA; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffery B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Jorgensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005773:Gastroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000379:methods*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008923:Missouri / Q000453:epidemiology; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult