Fluoroscopically placed percutaneous gastrostomies in the head and neck patient

At our institution, percutaneous gastrostomy tubes have been inserted under fluoroscopic guidance (fluoroscopic cutaneous gastrostomy [FPG]), thereby avoiding the need to traverse the pharynx and esophagus with a large-bore esophagoscope. For this reason, placement in the postoperative patient does not jeopardize the surgical reconstruction.

Thirty-five patients underwent percutaneous gastrostomy placement under fluoroscopic guidance. These included 12 patients whose cervical esophagus could not be entered safely because of a lesion in the head neck, 11 patients who had recently undergone resection of a head and neck cancer with pharyngeal reconstruction where traditional percutaneous enteral gastrostomy (PEG) placement was contraindicated, and two patients with postoperative fistulae.

Thirty-four of 35 patients underwent successful gastrostomy or gastrojejunostomy placement. One patient had an intrathoracic position of the stomach, and one patient required repeat placement because the tube dislodged 5 days after insertion. No tube occluded.

Percutaneous gastrostomy under fluoroscopic guidance (FPG) is an effective, safe method for access for prolonged enteral feeding of the patient whose cervical esophagus cannot be accessed for a variety of reasons. It also allows the safe placement of a gastrostomy catheter when the patient's postoperative course becomes complicated and prolonged enteral nutrition is required.