[Laparoscopic feeding gastrostomy: an alternative to the nasogastric tube]

Dysphagia is common in head and neck cancer and feeding becomes difficult. Nasogastric tubes cannot by placed in some patients and are poorly tolerated in others. However, endoscopic laparotomy techniques have advanced to a point in which they allow feeding gastrostomies to be used, which are non-aggressive, well-tolerated and a satisfactory alternative for patients with contraindications for upper endoscopy.