Gradual tube dilation method before percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy for obstructive esophageal cancer

Abstract

In patients with obstructive esophageal cancer (OEC) with stenosis of the tract to the stomach, the percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) procedure cannot be performed if the endoscope is unable to pass through to the stomach. Our aim was to describe the safety and utility of the gradual tube dilation method (GTD) before PEG in cases of OEC. This study enrolled 38 consecutive patients. If an ultrathin transnasal endoscope (UTNE) could successfully reach the stomach through the esophageal stenosis, then PEG was performed without using the GTD. If even the UTNE could not be passed to the stomach, PEG was performed after the GTD. The GTD shows the method that gradually increases the size from an 8 Fr to 16 Fr nasogastric tube which passed through the obstruction before performing PEG. We conducted a retrospective review of all patients who received the GTD. The complications were examined from the first UTNE to the completion of PEG. Seventeen of 38 patients received the GTD. All 17 patients successfully underwent the PEG procedures. The intubation period was 9.8 ± 3.4 days. The mean number of replacements was 2.5. Regarding complications, only three of the 17 patients experienced a sore throat. No significant differences were found in the PEG procedure times between the patients with the GTD and those without the GTD (P = 0.360). If patients with progressive esophageal cancer, such as OEC, need to undergo PEG, then the GTD is considered to be a useful modality for dilating the stenosis simply and safely.