Distal Bowel Re-feeding in Patients with Proximal Jejunostomy

Patients who have a proximal jejunostomy are difficult to manage because of their high stoma output which results in fluid and electrolyte imbalance with repeated hospital admissions and the necessity for expensive parenteral nutrition (PN). There are few reports on the use of re-feeding of the proximal effluents in this situation.

We here relate our experience with this manoeuvre in 35 patients between Jan 2010 and Feb 2016 who had stomas less than 120 cm away from the duodenojejunal flexure.

There were 26 males and 9 females, whose median age was 47 (19-74) years. The most common indications for massive bowel resection were gangrene in 25 (71%) and intestinal perforation in 7 (20%). The median proximal and distal small bowel lengths were 45 (15-120) cm and 90 (0-240) cm respectively. The ileocaecal (IC) valve was preserved in 33 (94%) and there was only colon distally (without the ileocaecal valve) in 2 (6%) patients. Twenty-five (71%) patients required post-operative ICU care. Additional PN was required in 6 (17%) patients during their index admission with the average extra cost of treatment being 20,000 rupees. Their median hospital stay was 13 (6-60) days. Patients were discharged without intravenous (IV) lines. Eight (26%) patients required re-admission for acute renal failure which was managed conservatively. No major problems were associated with re-feeding. None of the patients required PN after discharge from hospital. Thirty (86%) patients had their stomas closed at 65 (14-224) days. Both the patients with colon only as their distal bowel remnant died. Sepsis was the cause of mortality in 4 (11%) during index admission and 3 after their discharge. On follow-up after bowel re-connection, 2 patients died after 1 and 12 months, both due to intracranial bleeding, and the overall survival was 74%.

Patients with proximal jejunostomies can be managed with distal re-feeding. It is a cost-effective and effective substitute for PN, is associated with few problems, and has a fairly good long-term outcome.