Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy of the oncology patient

Malnutrition associated with oncological disease is a severe multifactorial condition that adversely affects the overall condition of the patient. Nutritional care is an integral part of multimodal oncology treatment. Enteral nutrition via a tube system is an efficient, highly effective and easy to use technique, associated with a low rate of complications. It allows the maintenance of adequate enteral nutrition of patients who are unable to meet their nutritional requirements by the oral route. Clinical studies have demonstrated the high level of acceptance by patients and the marked improvement in nutritional status and general well being of such patients. (author)