Fluoroscopic placement of jejunal feeding tubes

Over a two-and-one-half year period, 50 children underwent placements of jejunal tubes through a nasal route (NJ, n = 47) or through an existing gastrostomy site (GJ, n = 119). There were four attempted placements (98% success rate). The NJ tubes remained in place an average of 13 days, and the GJ tubes remained in place an average of 37 days. Fluoroscopic time for placement of an NJ tube averaged 6 min (29 cases), and for a GJ tube 8 minutes (91 cases). In spite of the limited retention time, fluoroscopic time, and availability of alternative methods, fluoroscopically placed jejunal feeding tubes are still playing an active role in this institution.