Acceptance and perception of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy by patients with upper aerodigestive tract cancer.

Surgeons have identified a role for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in selected patients with upper aerodigestive tract cancer, but little is known about the patient's acceptance and perception of PEG. Nineteen patients with upper aerodigestive tract cancer had placement of a PEG and were asked about their perceptions via a series of descriptors and associated questions. The 13 patients who had PEG placement under local anaesthesia and intravenous midazolam were questioned 12-16 h later and reported that the procedure was comfortable and not as bad as expected. These patients together with a further 6 patients who had placement under general anaesthesia were questioned about their acceptance of the PEG tube after 10 days. Comfort, ease of use and maintenance, and coverage by clothing confirms that PEG is an acceptable delivery system for enteral nutrition in patients with upper aerodigestive tract cancer.