Open AccessClinical experience of feeding through a needle catheter jejunostomy after major abdominal operations
Author(s) -
De Gottardi Andrea,
Krähenbühl Lukas,
Farhadi Jian,
Gernhardt Sabine,
Schäfer Markus,
Büchler Markus W.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
european journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1741-9271
pISSN - 1102-4151
DOI - 10.1080/110241599750007892
Subject(s) - medicine , surgery , jejunostomy , catheter , parenteral nutrition , abdominal wall
Objective: To report our incidence of local and systemic complications after needle‐catheter jejunostomy. Design: Retrospective analysis. Setting: University hospital, Switzerland. Results: 100 patients (70 men and 30 women; mean age 65 years, range 42–90) had needle‐catheter jejunostomy for postoperative enteral feeding. 26 developed catheter‐related and 18 nutrition‐related complications. Most of the complications were minor (lumenal obstruction of the catheter or local cellulitis) and only 3 patients needed reoperation, 2 because the catheter broke with extravasation of the nutrition formula into the subcutaneous tissue, and the other because of a small bowel obstruction. There was no small bowel necrosis and no patient died as a direct result of the jejunostomy. Overall, 92 patients were fed enterally according to the protocol, and 8 required removal of the catheter. Conclusion: Needle‐catheter jejunostomy gives a safe and effective access for postoperative enteral feeding. Minor technical complications are common and can be reduced by a meticulous insertion technique and careful postoperative management. Regular clinical surveillance may reduce the incidence of nutrition‐related complications. Copyright © 1999 Taylor and Francis Ltd.