| Abstract: |
Neoplastic diseases account for approximately one-half of all patients receiving home enteral nutrition, most of them with dysphagia due to the underlying cancer or antineoplastic therapies (malignant dysphagia). A review of the records of all patients with malignant dysphagia receiving home enteral nutrition for greater than 1 year was undertaken. The following factors were identified: age, primary cancer, type of enteral access, calories received, duration of therapy, complications, and need for tube replacement. Eighty-two patients were studied. On average, patients received 1978 cal/day (range: 500 to 3000) and were maintained on home enteral nutrition for 976 days (range: 367 to 3026). Complications at the tube site were infection in 4 patients (4.8%) and significant leakage in 2 patients (2.4%). Average durability of the enteral access devices was percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies (PEG) = 690 days, low profile gastrostomy = 1701 days, percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomies (PEJ) = 591 days, low-profile jejunostomy = 902 days, and surgical jejunostomy = 1114 days. Home enteral nutrition is a safe and effective means of long-term nutritional support in patients with severe malignant dysphagia. Copyright © 2001 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. |
