Enhancing Nutrition Support for Esophageal Cancer Patients: Understanding Factors Influencing Feeding Tube Utilization

Abstract

Objective: We sought to identify factors that can predict esophageal cancer (EC) patients at high risk of requiring feeding tube insertion. Methods: A retrospective cohort review was conducted, including all patients diagnosed with EC at our cancer center from 2013 to 2018. Multivariate logistic regression was performed comparing the group that required a reactive feeding tube insertion to those who did not require any feeding tube insertion to identify risk factors. Results: A total of 350 patients were included in the study, and 132/350 (38%) patients received a feeding tube. 50 out of 132 (38%) patients had feeding tube inserted reactively. Severe dysphagia (OR 19.9, p < 0.001) at diagnosis and decision to undergo chemotherapy (OR 2.8, p = 0.008) appeared to be predictors for reactive feeding tube insertion. The reactive insertion group had a 7% higher rate of complications relating to feeding tube. Conclusion: Severe dysphagia at diagnosis and undergoing chemotherapy were identified as risk factors for requiring a feeding tube. Ultimately, the aim is to create a predictive tool that utilizes these risks factors to accurate identify high-risk patients who may benefit from prophylactic feeding tube insertion.

Author Contributions

Writing-original draft preparation, Y.L. Writing-review and edition, Y.L, A.V.O. Supervision, A.T., Data abstraction E.M, Y.L, Data analysis, G.P, Conceptualization, M.D, A.T, R.R, Y.U, S.C, I.M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data Availability Statement

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available on request (from the corresponding author).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.