[Nasojejunal tube positioning with fluoroscopic guidance]

Area of Science:

• Clinical Medicine
• Gastroenterology
• Medical Devices

Context:

• Enteral nutrition is increasingly utilized, offering advantages over intravenous feeding.
• Jejunal feeding is a common method but necessitates nasojejunal tube placement.
• Various techniques exist for tube positioning, including X-ray, endoscopy, ultrasound, and blind methods.

Purpose:

• To present fluoroscopic guidance as a practical and effective method for nasojejunal tube placement in everyday clinical practice.
• To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and cost-benefit of fluoroscopic guidance for jejunal feeding.

Summary:

• The fluoroscopic technique for nasojejunal tube placement is presented as a fast, inexpensive, and well-tolerated procedure.
• This method requires no special expertise or premedication and can be performed in any hospital setting.
• The study reports 34 successful placements over 3 years with no major complications, though acute necrotizing pancreatitis occurred in all patients.

Impact:

• Fluoroscopic guidance offers a safe and accessible option for jejunal feeding across all inpatient departments.
• The technique's cost-effectiveness and ease of use make it a valuable tool for managing patients requiring enteral nutrition.
• Despite a noted complication, the overall safety profile supports its recommendation for widespread adoption.