ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the application of ultrathin transnasal gastroscopy in transnasal percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (nPEG) in patients with trimus and/or pharyngeal narrowing. METHODS: Nine consecutive patients underwent PEG with the Introducer method using conventional gastroscopy (5 cases) or ultrathin transnasal gastroscopy (4 cases). Among the 4 patients undergoing nPEG, 3 received radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal cancer, including two with trimus and one with trimus and pharyngeal narrowing. The procedure time, safety, discomfort and complications in these cases were compared and evaluated. RESULTS: The average procedure time of PEG was 17+/-3.5 min in conventional gastroscopy group and 17+/-3.1 min in nPEG group. No complications were observed in these patients, but the patients in nPEG group reported less discomfort associated with the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrathin transnasal gastroscopy reduces the discomfort of the procedure and is safer than conventional gastroscopy for PEG, especially in patients with trimus and/or pharyngeal narrowing.
