Roux-en-Y jejunostomy in gastroparesis: Insight into patient perspectives and outcomes

Gastroparesis is a chronic motility disorder characterized by delayed gastric emptying in the absence of mechanical obstruction. Patients with refractory gastroparesis often require enteral nutrition support, but traditional feeding methods such as nasojejunal tubes and percutaneous gastrojejunostomy tubes have significant limitations including frequent displacement, infection, and impact on quality of life.

To explore patients' experience post insertion of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y jejunostomy in a cohort of eight adult patients with idiopathic gastroparesis.

Eight patients with idiopathic gastroparesis who underwent Roux-en-Y jejunostomy placement between 2019-2022 were interviewed about their pre- and post-procedure experiences. The procedure involves creating a jejunal limb anastomosed to the proximal jejunum in a Y-configuration, with the limb brought to the abdominal wall for feeding tube insertion. This is designed to reduce leakage by diverting intestinal contents away from the stoma. Topics included symptoms, nutrition, quality of life, and comparison to previous feeding methods.

Post-procedure, all patients reported improvements in nausea/vomiting, and 87.5% noted reduced abdominal pain. Weight stabilized and oral intake improved in 75% of patients. Most (87.5%) described improved social confidence, increased energy, and better work/school functioning. Three patients (37.5%) eventually maintained adequate oral nutrition without jejunostomy. Minor complications included leakage (37.5%) and hypergranulation tissue. Half the cohort used supplemental gastric venting. Most patients (87.5%) preferred Roux-en-Y jejunostomy over previous feeding tubes and would undergo the procedure again.

Despite some challenges, Roux-en-Y jejunostomy led to notable improvements in symptoms, nutrition, and quality of life for most patients with refractory gastroparesis. It may be a viable option for long-term enteral nutrition support in carefully selected patients. Further research is needed to optimize patient selection and manage complications.