Direct percutaneous jejunostomy (DPJ) is a historically difficult procedure, indicated for patients where percutaneous gastrostomy does not provide adequate nutritional support and distal feeding is needed, such as in gastric cancers, abnormal gastric anatomy, or previous gastric surgeries. Jejunostomy placement is cumbersome and at times aborted due to the mobile nature of these small bowel loops, making anchoring difficult with conventional approaches. We report a novel procedure for primary direct percutaneous jejunostomy under fluoroscopic guidance, utilizing a low profile technique which makes placement safe and efficacious. Retrospective review of patients who underwent primary fluoroscopic jejunostomy placement at our institution was performed. In our approach, a standard micropuncture needle was advanced into jejunum under fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance. A 2-3mm short shaft 0.014 in pedal access micro-balloon catheter was advanced into jejunum over the wire, and used as an initial anchor, so that at least two Pexy anchors could subsequently be placed into this segment of bowel. After serial dilation of the initial anchor access, a 14-16F jejunostomy tube was advanced into desired position. A total of 15 low profile approach primary jejunostomy tube placements were identified, with mean patient age 64.3 ± 17.7 years with 10/15 male (67%). 15/15 (100%) of jejunostomy tubes were successfully placed in the desired efferent segment of jejenum without major complications. (1/15) was replaced shortly after placement due to self-removal by the patient. 3/15 performed under general anesthesia (20%), with an overall average fluoroscopic time of 23.0 ± 16.0 min. Primary percutaneous jejunostomy tube placement is fraught with difficulty and avoidance due to mobility of the jejunal bowel segments, resulting in inability to routinely place these vital feeding tubes. A low profile approach as described has demonstrated a safe and effective technique that can in increase offering of this procedure.
Read full abstract