Feasibility of self-propelling nasojejunal feeding tube in patients with acute pancreatitis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the success rate of a self-propelling nasojejunal feeding tube in patients with acute pancreatitis.


METHODS
All patients admitted for acute pancreatitis were included. A self-propelling nasojejunal feeding tube was introduced into the stomach, and gastrointestinal motility was stimulated using metoclopramide. If the tube failed to advance to the ligament of Treitz, a nasojejunal tube was placed endoscopically.


RESULTS
A total of 108 patients, 94 with necrotizing pancreatitis (Balthazar D/E) and 14 with nonnecrotizing pancreatitis (Balthazar B/C), were referred for artificial nutrition. In 11 cases, ileus persisted and parenteral nutrition was initiated. Among the remaining 97 patients, 5 refused tube placement. The self-propelling feeding tube was inserted in 92 patients with successful migration to the ligament of Treitz in 61% (n = 56) and failure in 39% (n = 36). Of the 36 patients with an initial failed placement, endoscopic placement of a nasojejunal tube was successful 80% of the time (29 patients). The success rate of a nasojejunal self-propelling feeding tube placement correlated directly with the severity of the acute pancreatitis (92% in B/C vs 61% in D vs 48% in E; P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Use of a self-propelling nasojejunal tube is a simple technique that can be successfully performed in the majority of patients with acute pancreatitis. The utility of this procedure in the most severe cases of acute pancreatitis continues to pose a challenge.
Joubert
Corinne
C
Gastroenterology and Nutrition, CHU, Caen, France.
Tiengou
Laurent-Eric
LE
Hourmand-Ollivier
Isabelle
I
Dao
Manh-Thông
MT
Piquet
Marie-Astrid
MA
D000208:Acute Disease; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008787:Metoclopramide / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000628:therapy*; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008787:Metoclopramide