Endoscopic placement of direct percutaneous jejunostomy tubes in patients with complications after esophagectomy.
BACKGROUND
Complications after esophagectomy may prevent oral intake, lead to dependence on total parenteral nutrition, and lengthen hospital stay. Direct percutaneous endoscopic placement of a jejunostomy tube allows enteral feeding in the presence of postoperative complications and eliminates the need for total parenteral nutrition.


METHODS
A total parenteral nutrition database was used to identify patients who received total parenteral nutrition because of complications after esophagectomy. Records of all patients subsequently referred for percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy placement were reviewed.


RESULTS
Twenty-five patients with postesophagectomy complications were referred for percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy placement. A percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy was successfully placed in 21 patients (84%), all of whom were weaned off total parenteral nutrition. Six patients (29%) in whom percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy placement was successful died during hospitalization at a mean of 20 days (range 5-40 days) after the procedure for reasons unrelated to percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy tube insertion. The remaining 15 patients were discharged while receiving nutrition by means of the percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy. Ten of them had subsequent removal of the percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy at a mean of 131 days (range 20-281 days). There were no major percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy-related complications. Minor complications occurred in 4 patients (19%).


CONCLUSIONS
Percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy placement may be considered in patients with complications after esophagectomy. In these patients, percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy placement avoids the need for total parenteral nutrition.
Bueno
Jack T
JT
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Schattner
Mark A
MA
Barrera
Rafael
R
Gerdes
Hans
H
Bains
Manjit
M
Shike
Moshe
M
D000368:Aged; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007582:Jejunostomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies