Efficacy and safety of local anesthesia in patients with head and neck tumors undergoing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG): Lidocaine versus ropivacaine - Prospective, randomized, double blind study

People with head and neck cancers often have difficulty swallowing, which can make eating and maintaining nutrition very challenging during cancer treatment. A feeding tube placed directly into the stomach through the abdomen — called a PEG (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) tube — is a common solution. The procedure to insert the tube involves local anaesthetic injected into the skin, and the choice of anaesthetic drug can affect how much pain a patient feels during and after the procedure. This study is comparing two local anaesthetic drugs — lidocaine (the current standard) and ropivacaine (a longer-acting alternative) — to see which provides better pain relief during and after PEG tube insertion. Good pain control is especially important for head and neck cancer patients, who often already have significant discomfort, and reducing pain improves the overall quality of care. You may be eligible if you have a head or neck tumour and have been referred for PEG tube placement, are 18 to 80 years old, have not been taking regular pain medication before the procedure, and are able to give informed consent. People with allergies to either anaesthetic drug, significant liver disease, very low platelet counts, or conditions preventing PEG placement would not be eligible. The study is conducted at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology in Lisbon.