Competent gastrostomy for patients with head and neck cancer

This study was performed to evaluate the efficiency and patient satisfaction with a modified Janeway gastrostomy for patients with head and neck cancer and cancer of the upper GI tract and involved 24 consecutive patients with serious malnutrition caused by advanced cancer of these sites. All underwent surgery during which a tube was constructed from the anterior gastric wall with the aid of GIA-75 automatic stapler. The operation was performed under local anaesthesia, with a senior anaesthesiologist, who sedated the patients, in attendance. The operation was successful in all cases. No postoperative mortality could be attributed to the operation. The complications were minor. The patient's close relatives were able to feed them intermittently with home-made formula made according to the instructions of our dietician. No late complications were recorded. Overall, the patients were satisfied with this technique for managing their feeding problem. The modified Janeway gastrostomy is an easy and safe operative procedure; it is an effective way of managing patients with malnutrition as a result of cancer of the head and neck or of the upper GI tract.