Jejunostomy Tube Feedings Should not Be Stopped in the Perioperative Patient

Background: Anesthetic standard of care is to restrict oral intake for 8 hours before elective surgery. There is no research addressing appropriate preoperative discontinuation of jejunostomy tube (J‐tube) feedings. We hypothesized that patients could be fed safely, via a J‐tube, until the time of surgery. Methods: Patients admitted to a Level I Trauma Center, having J‐tubes and undergoing a nonabdominal operation, were prospectively evaluated. Group I patients received J‐tube feedings until transport to the operating room. Group II patients had tube feedings discontinued for at least 8 hours before surgery. Data were compared using the Student's t test and contingency table analysis. Results: There were 46 patients in group I and 36 in group II. There was no incidence of aspiration. Patient groups did not differ in age, mortality, length of stay, injury severity score, or ventilator days. Group I patients had tube feedings discontinued for fewer hours before and after surgery than group II patients (before surgery: 1.40 ± 1.20 vs 11.61 ± 5.01, respectively; p <.001; after surgery: 2.99 ± 7.49 us 7.11 ± 9.03, respectively; p =.043); received more kilocalories/ grams of protein on the day of surgery (group I vs group II, 1676.15/89.57 ± 1133.21/38.04 us 791.14/57.58 ± 498.66/79.87, respectively; p =.001/ p =.032) and more kilocalories/grams of protein on the first postoperative day (group I us group II, 1580.74/92.57 ± 600.53/37.96 vs 1152.47/63.53 ± 733.96/39.40, respectively; p =.006/ p =.001). Conclusions: Patients receiving J‐tubes who are undergoing nonabdominal operations may safely continue enteral nutrition at maximum protein and caloric intake until surgery. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 23:356–359, 1999)