Fluoroscopic placement of nasojejunal feeding tubes with immediate feeding using a nonelemental diet

A method for fluoroscopic placement of an Erythrothane (8 French) feeding nasojejunostomy tube with a wire stylet is described. Two hundred thirty-eight feeding tubes were passed successfully to or beyond the Ligament of Treitz in 141 patients with an average fluoroscopy time of 5.3 min/patient. A nonelemental diet was administered without difficulty through the tubes by continuous infusion immediately after placement. This technique was found useful in avoiding total parenteral nutrition in patients with poor gastric emptying in situations such as the immediate postoperative period, drug-induced nausea, and in the presence of an altered mental status.