Magnetic balloon-assisted percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy

Magnetic balloon technology was created to assist in colonic loop reduction in cases of difficult or failed colonoscopy. It has since been recognized that the device can facilitate percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (PEJ) by readying a jejunal puncture point. This case describes magnetic balloon-assisted PEJ placement.

A patient with obesity with prior Roux-en-Y gastric bypass required percutaneous enteral feeding tube placement. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy insertion was not possible because of intrathoracic location of the gastric pouch. A jejunal puncture point was not identifiable using standard techniques because of central adiposity (eg, transillumination and 1-to-1 palpation).

A ferromagnetic balloon and permanent magnet were used to magnetically attract and anchor a loop of jejunal Roux limb to the anterior abdominal wall, thereby enabling identification of a jejunal puncture point using 1-to-1 palpation. A 20F "pull-type" enteral feeding tube was inserted into the jejunal Roux limb. The procedure was completed without fluoroscopy. No adverse events occurred.

Historically, jejunal puncture point localization and/or trocar passage has been the rate-limiting step of PEJ, accounting for approximately 13% technical failure rate. Magnetic balloon technology may assist with transabdominal jejunal access by magnetically attracting the jejunum to the abdominal wall.