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Nasal or percutaneous endoscopic placement of feeding tubes is more difficult and has a higher complication rate in patients with malignant obstructions of the oropharynx or gastrointestinal tract than in patients without such blockages. A variety of techniques have been described in the literature, but many of these studies have been hampered by their small size or selection bias.
Now, investigators in India have reported the success and complication rates associated with endoscopic placement of feeding tubes by a dedicated nutritional support team. During an 8-year period, 2055 placement attempts were made among 1866 consecutive cancer patients: Nasogastric tubes were placed in 1637 patients, nasoenteric tubes in 177, and percutaneous gast…