Safety of Prophylactic Gastrostomy Tube Placement and Gastrostomy Tube Usage in Patients Treated by Radio(chemo)therapy for Head and Neck Cancer.

BACKGROUND: A gastrostomy feeding tube is one method for long-term feeding support in patients undergoing radio(chemo)therapy for head and neck cancer (HNC). The aim of this study was to analyze the safety of prophylactic gastrostomy tube placement and usage in HNSCC patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: HNC patients undergoing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) or radiological percutaneous gastrostomy (RPG) tube placement prior to radio(chemo)therapy from 2010-2014 were retrospectively reviewed regarding procedural and long-term gastrostomy tube-related complications, usage of PEG/RPG, weight profile, pretreatment and posttreatment body mass index. RESULTS: A total of 212 patients underwent prophylactic feeding tube placement (71% RPG, 27% PEG and 2% surgical jejunostomy). A total of 173 patients utilized their gastrostomy tubes for either total or supplemental nutrition support. Despite this, 157 patients (74%) lost weight during therapy (mean weight loss=8 kg). The rate of severe tube-related complications (peritonitis/incorrect placement) was low and similar in both groups (PEG 2.7% vs. RPG 3.4%). CONCLUSION: Although a very high proportion of patients used their PEG/RPG during radio(chemo)therapy there was a high mean weight loss. Serious complications of tube placement were rare.