Adjuvant surgical decompression gastrostomy: audit of a procedure coming of age

Adjunctive decompression gastrostomy has been a popular alternative to nasogastric suction in the care for general surgical patients suffering from postoperative ileus--avoiding discomfort and adverse sequelae of nasogastric tubes. Patient benefit thus correlates with procedural safety and ileus duration. These baseline data of decision-making were scrutinized in a general surgical patient population.

Retrospective analysis of a prospective data set. Two hundred and fifty-nine patients undergoing emergency (n=208) or elective procedures (n=51) received decompression gastrostomy when prolonged ileus or noncompliance with nasogastric suction were anticipated. Procedural complications, incidence of postoperative pneumonia and duration of postoperative ileus assessed by daily oral fluid intake vs. gastric drainage volumes were prospectively documented.

Gastrostomy complications comprised 0.4% with minor morbidity only. The incidence of pneumonia was 4.5%. Postoperative ileus was nil in 17%, 1-3 days in 48%, 4-5 days in 16%, 6-8 days in 12% and 9-23 days in 7%.

Adjuvant Stamm-Kader gastrostomy is a safe procedure. The incidence of pneumonia was comparatively low and a pertinent prophylactic effectivity appears plausible but remains unproven due to study design. Postoperative ileus exceeding 3 days affects 35%, exceeding 5 days 19% and exceeding 8 days only 7% of pertinent patients, and ileus duration cannot be predicted at the time of surgery. Thus, a substantial number of patients may be overtreated by prophylactic adjuvant surgical gastrostomy. The procedure improves patient's comfort and avoids complications of nasogastric suction. Prophylactic surgical gastrostomy remains a timely adjunct to general surgery but the indication should be individualized.