Feeding jejunostomy (versus gastrostomy) passes the test of time. 1987

G D Burtch, and C H Shatney

The authors previously reported a higher incidence of early postoperative complications after feeding gastrostomy compared to jejunostomy, prompting the recommendation of jejunostomy for chronic enteral feeding. Long-term follow-up has since been obtained on these 31 patients and an additional 25 patients undergoing surgical feeding procedures. The 26 feeding gastrostomies were 16 Stamm, eight permanent mucosal-lined, and two Witzel. The 30 feeding jejunostomies consisted of 19 Roux-en-Y, nine Stamm, and two Witzel. Patients with gastrostomy have had a mean follow-up of 100 days. Adverse events have occurred in 15/26 (58%), including 9 patients with pulmonary aspiration (35%), two of which were fatal. Twenty-three additional patients have died of underlying diseases. All 11 patients with tube jejunostomy died of underlying diseases within 4 months of surgery. The complication rate was 36%, including pulmonary aspiration in both patients with Witzel jejunostomy. The 19 patients with Roux-en-Y jejunostomy have had mean follow-up of 169 days. Complications have occurred in 9 patients (47%); 16/19 patients (mean age 55 years) have died of underlying disease. The mean age of the patients still alive is 35 years. Feeding jejunostomy has a lower incidence of complications, especially pulmonary aspiration, than gastrostomy. Stamm jejunostomy should be used for enteral feeding in older patients and in patients with short life expectancy. In younger patients requiring lifelong enteral feeding, Roux-en-Y jejunostomy should be used.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007583 Jejunum The middle portion of the SMALL INTESTINE, between DUODENUM and ILEUM. It represents about 2/5 of the remaining portion of the small intestine below duodenum. Jejunums
D011183 Postoperative Complications Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery. Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D004750 Enteral Nutrition Nutritional support given via the alimentary canal or any route connected to the gastrointestinal system (i.e., the enteral route). This includes oral feeding, sip feeding, and tube feeding using nasogastric, gastrostomy, and jejunostomy tubes. Enteral Feeding,Force Feeding,Nutrition, Enteral,Tube Feeding,Gastric Feeding Tubes,Feeding Tube, Gastric,Feeding Tubes, Gastric,Feeding, Enteral,Feeding, Force,Feeding, Tube,Feedings, Force,Force Feedings,Gastric Feeding Tube,Tube, Gastric Feeding,Tubes, Gastric Feeding
D005774 Gastrostomy Creation of an artificial external opening into the stomach for nutritional support or gastrointestinal compression. Gastrostomies
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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