Efficacy and tolerability of percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy in upper aerodigestive tract cancers

Nutritional care is essential for upper aerodigestive tract cancer patients. In the hospital, percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy is performed using "introducer" method. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of gastrostomy inserted to patients suffering from upper aerodigestive tract cancer. A retrospective study about data collection has been done on gastrostomy insertions from January 1st, 2018 to December 31st, 2018 to patients suffering of upper aerodigestive tract cancer in the Otorhinolaryngology department. Thirty-seven patients in total received a gastrostomy whose indication was prophylactic in the majority of the cases (78%). Seventeen patients (46%) lost weight (mean [min; max]: -2,5 kg [ -0,1; -5,7]) and nine (24%) gained weight (3,2 kg [0,5; 6,9]) in the interval between the gastrostomy insertion and two months after the end of treatments. The mean duration of gastrostomy was 146 days [42; 367]. On average, patients resumed eating 42 days [9; 91] after the end of treatments. Complications affected five patients (13%): peristomal leaking, porosity and deflation of the balloon, abdominal contractures and a hemorrhagic shock at the moment of the insertion. Gastrostomy insertion is a major asset to limit weight loss. Furthermore, the tolerability was found to be similar to the one from the literature for any type of gastrostomy (curative and preventive). (C) 2019 Societe francophone nutrition clinique et metabolisme (SFNCM). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.