title: Small-bowel necrosis associated with jejunal tube feeding.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report 3 cases of small-bowel necrosis after jejunal tube feeding and to review the literature concerning this condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 5-year retrospective review.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 560-bed university-affiliated tertiary-care teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three patients who had bowel necrosis out of 386 who received jejunal tube feedings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients experienced small-bowel necrosis as a consequence of jejunal feeding. The ischemic necrosis was preceded by progressive abdominal pain, distension and high nasogastric output. All 3 patients required extensive small-bowel resection. Although survival was rare in previous reports, our 3 patients survived after prompt surgical intervention and small-bowel resection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the death rate for this condition approaches 70%, timely recognition and surgical intervention can save the patient's life.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, University of Western Ontario, London Health Sciences Center.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Lawlor
authors.forename: R I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Inculet
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Malthaner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D007582:Jejunostomy; D007583:Jejunum / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome