Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy – Too often? Too late? Who are the right patients for gastrostomy?

Table 2 Accepted and data-supported indications for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (for references see text)

Main disease groups	Diagnosis/reason for dysphagia
Cancer	Head and neck cancer
	Pharyngeal cancer
	Esophageal carcinoma
	Cancer with functional bowel obstruction (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy used as a decompression measure)
Neurodegenerative disorders	Stroke
	Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
	Multiple sclerosis
	Severe brain damage from various reasons (trauma, persistent vegetative state, psychomental retardation, etc.)