Spontaneous Enteral Migration of a Feeding Jejunostomy Tube: An Unusual Complication

Established consensus suggests that enteral nutrition is more beneficial in patients with a functioning gut than parenteral nutrition. It helps in early physical rehabilitation from a disease or surgical stress and is associated with fewer complications compared to parenteral nutrition. Jejunal feeding is one of the routine modes of enteral nutrition in patients with gastric dysfunction, either due to surgery or critical illness. Various complications have been reported when using feeding tubes, grouped as mechanical, infectious, gastrointestinal, and metabolic. Here, we report an unusual case of a 47-year male with a history of prepyloric perforation repair leak who presented to us on postoperative day 14 with an enterocutaneous fistula and a feeding jejunostomy tube in situ. He was evaluated and managed conservatively and discharged on enteral feeds, both orally and via a jejunostomy tube. One month after discharge, he presented with features of intestinal obstruction with a missing jejunostomy tube. Radiological investigations suggested enteral migration of the jejunostomy tube, which was managed non-operatively, and the patient was discharged on day three post-admission after per rectal expulsion of the tube.