Analysis of complications and long-term outcome of trauma patients with needle catheter jejunostomy.

Enteral feedings demonstrably lower the risk of septic complications. However, complications associated with the specific method of enteral feeding may diminish the intended benefits. The objective was to determine the short and long-term complications associated with needle catheter jejunostomy (NCJ). All NCJs placed at a Level I trauma center over an 8-year period were reviewed. Short-term complications directly attributable to NCJ were defined as tube leakage with intraabdominal or intraparietal spillage, intraabdominal abscess, small bowel obstruction at the catheter site, tube blockage or dislodgement, or soft tissue infection. Telephone interviews were conducted to elicit long-term complications, including operations to correct a complication of the NCJ, chronic nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, hernia, or change in appetite. Of 122 study patients, short-term complications (N = 22) included two abscesses, one bowel obstruction, two abdominal wall infections, three leaks, one local soft tissue infection, one enterocutaneous fistula, three blocked catheters, and nine tube dislodgements. Fifty patients were contacted by telephone; 19 had long-term complications, including two operations for adhesions. Complications associated with NCJ are common, may be life-threatening, and may require surgical intervention. In many cases, other methods of enteral feeding access may be preferable to NCJ.