Pre-operative percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement does not increase post-operative complications or mortality in oesophageal cancer.

Background: The percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube in patients with oesophageal cancer is controversial, owing to a perceived risk of tumour seeding at the PEG site, theoretical difficulty in formation of gastric conduit during oesophagectomy and a fear of increased post-operative complications, including anastomotic leak. We aimed to assess the impact of PEG tubes on nutritional status and post-operative complications in patients with oesophageal cancer who underwent PEG tube insertion prior to neo-adjuvant treatment.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 800 patients with oesophageal or gastro oesophageal junction (GOJ) cancer, who underwent PEG insertion from June, 2010 to May, 2015. Out of these, 168 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were analysed further. All of them were followed up for 3 years after treatment to assess overall survival. Thus, the follow up of the last patient included in the study was completed on May, 31, 2018.

Results: The average body mass index (BMI) of patients was maintained following PEG tube, during neo-adjuvant treatment (22.34±4.84 before PEG 21.85±3.90 after PEG, P value: 0.1). Out of 168 patients, 33 (19.7%) developed a complication following PEG tube, with PEG site infection as the most common in 24 (14.2%). PEG-related mortality at 1 month was 0%. Ninety out of 168 patients (59%) underwent surgery after neo-adjuvant treatment. Three patients had tumour seeding at the PEG site and thus surgery could not be performed. Gastric conduit formation was possible in all 99 patients. Postoperative complications were seen in 17/99 (17%) patients, including surgical site infections in 7 (7.07%), anastomotic leak in 6 (6.06%) and anastomotic stricture in 4 (4.04%). Overall survival at 3 years was 87%.

Conclusions: Pre-operative PEG tube in oesophageal cancer is safe and does not compromise the future anastomosis. Also, it helps in maintaining the nutritional status during neo-adjuvant treatment.