COMPETENT GASTROSTOMY FOR PATIENTS WITH HEAD AND NECK-CANCER

This study was performed to evaluate the efficiency and patient satisf action with a modified Janeway gastrostomy for patients with head and neck: cancer and cancer of the upper CTI tract and involved 24 consecu tive patients with serious malnutrition caused by advanced cancer of t hese sites. All underwent surgery during which a tube was constructed from the anterior gastric wall with the aid of GIA-75 automatic staple r. The operation was performed under local anaesthesia, with a senior anaesthesiologist, who sedated the patients, in attendance. The operat ion was successful in all, cases. No postoperative mortality could be attributed to the operation. The complications were minor. The patient 's close relatives were able to feed them intermittently with home-mad e formula made according to the instructions of our dietician. No late complications were recorded. Overall, the patients were satisfied wit h this technique for managing their feeding problem. The modified Jane way gastrostomy is an easy and safe operative procedure; it is an effe ctive way of managing patients with malnutrition a; a result of cancer of the head and neck or of the upper GI tract.