How we do it? Surgical gastrostomy

Abstract

Head and neck cancers are debilitating and disfiguring at the same time. The distress experienced by the patient is multiplied when he or she is unable to eat and drink, which later results in weight loss and cachexia. Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy is a popular but expensive intervention, which provides patients with an alternative nourishment method. Considering the limited resources, this treatment option should only be used in justified cases in order to provide benefit to a maximum number of patients. Here we present our innovative way of performing surgical gastrostomy under local anesthesia. It is cheaper, safer and avoids general anesthesia. The patient is ambulatory within 2 hours of surgery which is performed as a daycare procedure.