Comparison of needle catheter versus standard tube jejunostomy

It is commonly stated that needle catheter jejunostomy (NCJ) is associated with fewer complications than standard tube jejunostomy (STJ). We compared the morbidity of NCJ versus STJ performed as adjunctive procedures in 90 patients from 1977 to 1983. NCJ was performed in 55 patients and STJ in 35 patients. The two groups were similar with respect to age, sex, diagnosis, and operation performed. The overall postoperative morbidity was 35 per cent for the NCJ group and 62 per cent for the STJ group. Mortality was 19 per cent and 35 per cent, respectively. Minor complications related to the jejunostomy occurred in 16 per cent of the NCJ group and 9 per cent of the STJ group. Diarrhea and abdominal distention occurred with equal frequency in the two groups. One NCJ patient required reoperation for intestinal obstruction at the catheter exit site, and one STJ patient required operative closure of a fistula following tube removal for major complications rates of 1.8 per cent and 2.8 per cent, respectively. The statement that STJ is associated with more jejunostomy-related complications than NCJ is not substantiated by this study. Because of greater ease of insertion, NCJ remains our procedure of choice for adjunctive feeding jejunostomy.