Use of trans-anastomotic tubes in congenital duodenal obstruction

Despite data to suggest benefit of trans- anastomotic tube (TAT) feeding in infants following repair of congenital duodenal obstruction (CDO), TAT usage is limited. We aimed to report a large series of infants with CDO treated with or without TAT in order to improve the evidence underlying this simple intervention.

Single centre retrospective review of all infants CDO over a 20-year period (January 1999 - November 2020, inclusive). Important outcomes were compared between infants treated with or without TAT. Data are median [IQR].

Ninety-six infants were included. A TAT was placed in 54 infants (56%). Median time to full enteral feed was significantly shorter in the TAT group (6 [5-8] days vs 10 [7.5-12], p <0.001). Time to first feed was shorter in the TAT group (2 [2-2.8] days vs 3 [2-5], p<0.001). Significantly fewer infants with a TAT placed received a central venous catheter (CVC, 15% vs 76%, p <0.001). Infants without a TAT received parenteral nutrition (PN) for longer (0 [0-0] vs 7 [0-11] days, p <0.001). There was no change in length of stay between TAT and no TAT group (16 [13-21.8] vs 15 [12-21.8] days, p = 0.722). Eight infants (15%) in the TAT group required a CVC and PN. One infant in the TAT group developed a perforation that required surgical management and nine infants in the non-TAT group had complications related to the CVC (21%), including one infant that required general anaesthetic for tunnelled central line placement (2.3%).

In infants with CDO, TAT use was associated with earlier establishment of full enteral feeds, reduced need for CVC and PN and reduced complications. Further research should focus on the barriers to wider use of TAT by surgeons and neonatologists in infants with CDO.