Effect of Thickening Powder on Gastrointestinal Losses in Patients With High-output End Jejunostomy Syndrome -...

End jejunostomy syndrome is a type of short bowel syndrome (SBS) in which the jejunum forms the end of the bowel, as a result of resection or exclusion of the ileum and colon. It is associated with a high risk of dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and malnutrition due to excessive stomal losses.

In this retrospective study, we analyzed the medical records of sixteen adult patients with SBS and high-output end jejunostomy syndrome who received thickened fluids during their hospitalization in the home parenteral nutrition unit. The main parameter considered was daily stoma excretion volume, measured by 24-h collection. Values were compared between days when patients drank the daily amount of 600 ml of water, and days when patients ingested the same amount of water but mixed with thickening powder to achieve a mildly thick consistency.

Median volumes of end jejunostomy output were significantly lower when patients consumed the mixture of water and thickening powder, compared with drinking water without additives (550.0 ml/d vs. 811.9 ml/d, p=0.002).

These preliminary results demonstrate a potential benefit of thickening powder for the nutritional management of patients with SBS type I, and point to the need for further randomized clinical studies with larger patient groups.