The Use of Gastrostomy Procedures in HNC Patients
A.G. Anghel, I. Anghel, M. Dumitru, D. Cristian, T. BurcosOriginal article, no. 3, 2013
Purpose: To analyse the gastrostomy procedures performed in
HNC patients admitted to Coltea Clinical Hospital in order
to underline the similarities and differences to the data
published worldwide.
Patients and methods: Our retrospective study contains 64
HNC cases that met the inclusion criteria between 2008
and 2011.
Results and discussions: The study group presents numerous
specific characteristics (a larger number of cases aged over 55
than younger patients; elective use of classic gastrostomy
instead of newer techniques; approximately two thirds of the
gastrostomies were performed in patients with laryngeal
carcinoma; only one third approximately of the cases benefited
from prophylactic gastrostomy; etc.).
Conclusions: 22% of the gastrostomies were made after the
appearance of a pharyngocutaneous fistula. Therefore we
will begin a future prospective study in order to ascertain the
value of prophylactic PEG in preventing the appearance of
pharyngocutaneous fistulas.
