The value of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in ENT tumor patients

Many patients with advanced head and neck cancer are already in a poor nutritional status and need supportive nutritional therapy at the time of initial diagnosis. Malnutrition is associated with delayed recovery, prolonged hospital stay and unfavorable prognosis. By using percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), the social stigmatization for the patient resulting from the conspicuous nasal feeding tube is avoided. The PEG can be easily implemented at the time of diagnosis by head and neck surgeons in patients suffering from massive tumor-associated weight loss, when definitive or adjuvant radiochemotherapy is anticipated, or prior to tumor surgery likely to be followed by prolonged significant dysphagia and protracted swallowing rehabilitation. Analgesics can be administered via the PEG tube, thus simplifying adequate pain management, which plays a central role in the care of head and neck cancer patients.