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Small-bowel necrosis associated with jejunal tube feeding
D K Lawlor1, R I Inculet, R A Malthaner
1Division of Thoracic Surgery, University of Western Ontario, London Health Sciences Center.
Objectives:
To report 3 cases of small-bowel necrosis after jejunal tube feeding and to review the literature concerning this condition.
Design:
A 5-year retrospective review.
Setting:
A 560-bed university-affiliated tertiary-care teaching hospital.
Patients:
Three patients who had bowel necrosis out of 386 who received jejunal tube feedings.
Results:
The patients experienced small-bowel necrosis as a consequence of jejunal feeding. The ischemic necrosis was preceded by progressive abdominal pain, distension and high nasogastric output. All 3 patients required extensive small-bowel resection. Although survival was rare in previous reports, our 3 patients survived after prompt surgical intervention and small-bowel resection.
Conclusions:
Although the death rate for this condition approaches 70%, timely recognition and surgical intervention can save the patient's life.