[Experiences with percutaneous endoscopy controlled gastrostomy in patients with neck and otolaryngologic tumors]

Most patients with head and neck tumours need supportive long-term nutrition. To guarantee enteral food intake we implanted a nasogastric tube percutaneously without any complications in 108 patients. The advantage of this method of feeding is that the direct percutaneous route avoids any mechanical irritation of the upper gastro-intestinal tract; this could be important, for example, during radiotherapy, because the mucous membranes are already damaged. In addition the gastric tube is invisible below the patient's clothing so that he can move about without embarrassment.