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Failure of a feeding jejunostomy
Medicine, Science, and the Law
|July 1, 1993
Summary
A rare case of a pedestrian fatally injured by a motor vehicle experienced malnutrition due to feeding jejunostomy failure. Small bowel hyperperistalsis complicated the jejunostomy, leading to death.
Area of Science:
- Medical Case Study
- Gastroenterology
- Trauma Surgery
Background:
- A 16-year-old female pedestrian sustained severe head trauma after a motor vehicle accident.
- Initial hospitalization focused on managing severe neurological deficits and associated complications.
Observation:
- A jejunostomy was placed for nutritional support, but the patient experienced persistent feeding difficulties and severe diarrhea.
- Despite interventions, adequate nutritional intake was not achieved, and hyperperistalsis of the small bowel was observed.
Findings:
- Autopsy revealed the jejunostomy catheter bulb had migrated distally, obstructing function.
- The cause of death was attributed to malnutrition secondary to feeding jejunostomy failure, exacerbated by small bowel hyperperistalsis in the context of diffuse brain trauma.
Implications:
- This case highlights a previously undescribed complication of feeding jejunostomy leading to fatal malnutrition.
- It underscores the importance of monitoring jejunostomy function and managing gastrointestinal motility in patients with severe neurological impairment.