title: Fiber-containing formula and needle catheter jejunostomies: a clinical evaluation.
abstract: Despite the high frequency of diarrhea, chemically defined diets have traditionally been used with needle catheter jejunostomies, a common form of postpyloric enteral access, to avoid tube occlusion. We reviewed our experience with 57 patients fed a fiber-containing diet to determine the incidence of catheter occlusion and diarrhea. Eight catheters temporarily occluded but were reopened and remained patent for an additional 6.3 +/- 3.1 days for an overall success rate of 91% (52 of 57). The five remaining occluded catheters were removed after 6.2 +/- 1.8 days. Four of the five patients with occluded catheters tolerated gastric feedings, but one required a permanent jejunostomy. Diarrhea occurred in six (10.5%) of the 57 patients given the fiber-containing formula. We concluded that a fiber-containing formula can be administered through needle catheter jejunostomies if the catheter is irrigated daily and if no medications are given via the catheter. A fiber-containing formula may reduce the incidence of diarrhea in jejunostomy-fed patients compared with patients fed chemically defined diets.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Collier
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kudsk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Glezer
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005526:Food, Formulated; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007582:Jejunostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged