Bevacizumab does not increase risk of perforation in patients undergoing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or jejunostomy placement Journal Article


Authors: Dibba, P.; Ludwig, E.; Calo, D.; Gerdes, H.; Markowitz, A.; Shike, M.; Schattner, M.; Mendelsohn, R.
Article Title: Bevacizumab does not increase risk of perforation in patients undergoing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or jejunostomy placement
Abstract: Introduction: Bevacizumab is a humanized anti-vascular endothelial growth factor monoclonal antibody used in the treatment of cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, renal cell cancer, and recurrent glioblastomas. Its approval by US FDA was issued with a black box warning that its use has been associated with a risk of gastrointestinal (GI) tract perforation and that it should be discontinued in patients who have experienced such. The reported incidence of GI perforation in those receiving bevacizumab is as high as 3%. However, the incidence of GI perforation in those receiving bevacizumab undergoing GI endoscopic procedures has not been well studied. Methods: A retrospective, single-center observational study was conducted at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) between 2011 and 2018. All patients who underwent upper GI endoscopy with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) or percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (PEJ) tube placement and received bevacizumab within 6 months of their endoscopic procedure were included. Results: We identified 176 patients who underwent PEG or PEJ tube placement and received bevacizumab within 6 months. Eighty-one percent of patients were female (n = 144) and the median age was 61 years. Prior to endoscopic procedures, patients received a median of seven doses of bevacizumab. Patients received bevacizumab from 170 days before to 170 days after their endoscopic procedures (median 44 days). No GI perforations were observed during or after the time of the endoscopic procedures. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that receiving bevacizumab within 6 months prior to their endoscopic procedure was not associated with an increased risk of GI tract perforation and thus not an absolute contraindication to proceeding with PEG and PEJ tube placement in these patients. © 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
Keywords: percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy; bevacizumab; perforation; peg; pej; percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy
Journal Title: Surgical Endoscopy
Volume: 35
Issue: 6
ISSN: 0930-2794
Publisher: Springer  
Date Published: 2021-06-01
Start Page: 2976
End Page: 2980
Language: English
DOI: 10.1007/s00464-020-07738-7
PUBMED: 32583069
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC9488627
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 June 2021 -- Source: Scopus
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Citation Impact
MSK Authors
  1. Moshe Shike
    168 Shike
  2. Hans Gerdes
    170 Gerdes
  3. Arnold J Markowitz
    133 Markowitz
  4. Emmy Ludwig
    50 Ludwig
  5. Mark Schattner
    152 Schattner
  6. Delia   Calo
    9 Calo