Assessing the Dependence of Feeding Gastrostomy Tube in Patients of Head and Neck Carcinomas

Authors

  • Rabeeta Sheikh Department of Oncology, Shaukat Khanam Memorial Cancer Hospital, & Research Centre Peshawar Pakistan
  • Muhammad Sohaib Nadeem Department of Oncology, Combined Military Hospital/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
  • Nadia Khaleeq Khyber Medical University, Peshawar Pakistan
  • Muhammad Fawad Ul Qamar Department of Oncology, Shaukat Khanam Memorial Cancer Hospital, & Research Centre Peshawar Pakistan
  • Irfan Haider Department of Oncology, Shaukat Khanam Memorial Cancer Hospital, & Research Centre Peshawar Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v74i1.9886

Keywords:

Esophagus, Radiotherapy, Neoplasms, Drug therapy, Gastrostomy, Head and neck neoplasms

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the dependency on feeding gastrostomy tubes in patients with head and neck cancers treated with radiotherapy alone or concurrent chemo-radiotherapy.

Study Design: Retrospective longitudinal study.

Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi and Shaukat Khanum Hospital, Peshawar Pakistan,
from Jan and Jul 2022.

Methodology: A total of 115 patients with head and neck cancers having no baseline dysphagia and having gastrostomy tubes were included. All had received an equivalent of 60 greys in 30 fractions or more of radiotherapy. Their swallowing was evaluated weekly during radiotherapy and then every 4–6 weeks on post-treatment follow-up. The total time duration of patient dependency on feeding gastrostomy tube after treatment completion was noted for each head and neck cancer subsite.
Results: Of a total of 115 patients, 49(43%) of the patients had nasopharyngeal cancers, 22(19%) had laryngeal, 29(24%) oral cavity, 7(6%) hypopharyngeal and 9(8%) had cervical esophageal cancers. Proportion retaining gastrostomy tube for more than six months of treatment was 8.7% (median duration of retention was five months) with hypopharyngeal,
nasopharyngeal, oral cavity, and laryngeal cancer were 14%, 9%, 9% and 5%, respectively.

Conclusion: The proportion of patients with head and neck cancers requiring more than six months of a gastrostomy tube is 5-14%. Baseline assessment of swallowing and nutrition and prophylactic feeding gastrostomy can avoid treatment
interruptions. Longer duration of retention of a gastrostomy tube is associated with poor quality of life in head and neck
cancer patients receiving radiation or concurrent chemo-radiation.

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Published

28-02-2024

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Original Articles

How to Cite

1.
Sheikh R, Nadeem MS, Nadia Khaleeq, Muhammad Fawad Ul Qamar, Irfan Haider. Assessing the Dependence of Feeding Gastrostomy Tube in Patients of Head and Neck Carcinomas. Pak Armed Forces Med J [Internet]. 2024 Feb. 28 [cited 2024 Sep. 1];74(1):89-93. Available from: https://pafmj.org/PAFMJ/article/view/9886