BACKGROUND: Evidence-based nutritional and swallowing guidelines were developed to identify patients at high risk of developing malnutrition during chemoradiation for head and neck cancer. These guidelines recommended a prophylactic gastrostomy and were actively implemented at our institution in January 2007. This study assesses the effect of this policy change on patient outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was carried out for the years before (2005) and after (2007) implementation of these guidelines. RESULTS: In all, 165 patients were treated with radical chemoradiation for head and neck cancer at our institution in the years 2005 and 2007. Gastrostomy tube complications were low. Patients in 2007 had significantly fewer hospital admissions, unexpected admissions, and a shorter mean duration of hospital stay in comparison with those in 2005. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic gastrostomy tubes in patients with high-risk head and neck cancer resulted in a significant decrease in hospital admissions and length of stay, and led to increased bed availability.
BACKGROUND: Evidence-based nutritional and swallowing guidelines were developed to identify patients at high risk of developing malnutrition during chemoradiation for head and neck cancer. These guidelines recommended a prophylactic gastrostomy and were actively implemented at our institution in January 2007. This study assesses the effect of this policy change on patient outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was carried out for the years before (2005) and after (2007) implementation of these guidelines. RESULTS: In all, 165 patients were treated with radical chemoradiation for head and neck cancer at our institution in the years 2005 and 2007. Gastrostomy tube complications were low. Patients in 2007 had significantly fewer hospital admissions, unexpected admissions, and a shorter mean duration of hospital stay in comparison with those in 2005. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic gastrostomy tubes in patients with high-risk head and neck cancer resulted in a significant decrease in hospital admissions and length of stay, and led to increased bed availability.
Authors: Ashley C Mays; Harrison G Bartels; Paul R Wistermayer; Matt L Rohlfing; Christopher M Gentile; Ralph D'Agostino; Joshua D Waltonen Journal: Head Neck Date: 2017-11-13 Impact factor: 3.147
Authors: Johanna Ruohoalho; Katri Aro; Antti A Mäkitie; Timo Atula; Aaro Haapaniemi; Harri Keski-Säntti; Leena Kylänpää; Annika Takala; Leif J Bäck Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2017-09-01 Impact factor: 2.503
Authors: Stephanie M Shaw; Heather Flowers; Brian O'Sullivan; Andrew Hope; Louis W C Liu; Rosemary Martino Journal: Dysphagia Date: 2015-03-04 Impact factor: 3.438
Authors: Amanda M Duffy; Mark Halaki; Allan Spigelman; Venessa Chin; Richard M Gallagher; Victoria M Flood Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2019-05-02 Impact factor: 3.603