Table 2 Comparison of key studies which report on timing of commencement of enteral feeding during treatment
Citation | Study population | N | Type and timing of tube placement | Commencement of feeds (no. days after start of treatment) | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nugent et al., Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 2010, 23(3):277-284 | HNC treated with radical chemoradiotherapy requiring tube feeding | 50 | Prophylactic PEG (before start of treatment) n = 21 | Range: 1–33 days | Mean weight loss: −4.6% |
Late PEG (during treatment) n = 11 | Range: 14–30 days | Mean weight loss: −8.7% | |||
NG tube n = 18 | Range: 10–34 days | Mean weight loss: −8.5% | |||
Raykher et al., JPEN 2009, 33(4):404-410 | HNC with definitive or adjuvant chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy requiring PEG | 163 | Prophylactic PEG (before start of treatment) n = 161 | Mean 21 days | PEG used by n = 160 (98%) due to severe dysphagia (mean duration of use 251 +/− 317 days) |
Late PEG (during treatment) n = 2 | |||||
Treatment interruptions in 7% | |||||
Strictures requiring dilatation in 12% | |||||
BMI optimised in obese/overweight patients through individual regimens | |||||
Scolapio et al., Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology 2001, 33(3):215-217 | HNC with definitive or adjuvant radiotherapy requiring PEG | 54 | Prophylactic PEG (before start of treatment) n = 41 | Mean 10 days | Mean wt loss 2.7 kg |
Nil nutrition related admissions | |||||
Late PEG (during treatment) n = 13 | Mean 23 days | Mean wt loss 4.5 kg | |||
Nutrition related admissions n = 4 |