Usefulness of Prophylactic Percutaneous Gastrostomy Placement in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer Treated with Chemoradiotherapy

Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) has evolved as the preferred organ preservation strategy in the treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancer (HNC). This approach increases malnutrition, and thus, establishing a direct enteral feeding route is essential. To evaluate the usefulness of prophylactic percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in HNC patients receiving definitive CRT, we performed a prospective evaluation of HNC patients over a 6-month period. Patients and tumor characteristics, nutritional status 30 days after PEG insertion and technique complications were evaluated. We also assessed the long-term PEG usage. Forty-seven PEGs were placed and only 2 patients did not use it. The mean time of PEG use was 131 days (4–255) and mean duration of exclusive utilization was 71 days (4–180). On 30th day after procedure, 34/45 (76 %) patients had lost weight, but only 10/45 (22 %) patients had lost more than 10 % of their initial weight. The most frequent complications were minor peristomal infections, which were correlated with proton-pump inhibitor use before PEG placement (OR 3.91, 95 % CI 1.01–15.2, and p = 0.049). One year later, 19 % of patients in remission continue needing PEG. Enteric nutritional support is essential during and after CRT in HNC patients. Most patients lost weight even with PEG. One-fifth of patients in remission required long-term PEG utilization.