Laparoscopic-assisted percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube insertion in the immediate post-partum period for head and neck cancer

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement serves as a well-tolerated and efficacious technique for long-term enteral access in patients with medical conditions precluding oral food intake. The nutritional optimisation of patients with oral cancer is mostly achieved via PEG tube placement. However, certain special situations, such as pregnancy and the immediate post-partum period, may render the placement of PEG tubes to be a challenge. A 28-year-old pregnant female patient presented to us with the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue during her third trimester. Definitive surgical resection was planned post-delivery along with simultaneous PEG tube placement. Immediately following delivery via an elective Caesarean section, she successfully underwent laparoscopic-assisted PEG tube placement. A gravid uterus or an immediately post-partum distended uterus poses significant difficulties whilst attempting PEG insertion. However, laparoscopic-assisted PEG insertion in a controlled setting may make the process safer to perform.