Current considerations in direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy

BACKGROUND:

Direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (DPEJ) is a well-known approach to deliver postpyloric enteral nutritional support to individuals who cannot tolerate gastric feeding. However, it is technically difficult, and some case series have reported significant procedural failure rates. The present article describes current indications, successes and complications of DPEJ placement

METHODS:

A MEDLINE database search was performed to identify relevant articles using the key words “direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy”, “percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy”, and “percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy with a jejunal extension tube”. Additional articles were identified by a manual search of the references cited in the key articles obtained in the primary search.

RESULTS:

DPEJ is gradually becoming more common in the treatment of patients who cannot tolerate gastric feeding. Differences in patient selection and technique modifications may contribute to the various success rates reported. Failure is most often due to inadequate transillumination or gastroduodenal obstruction. Currently, there are limited data to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of DPEJ.

CONCLUSION:

The clinical use of DPEJ is increasing. With appropriate care and expertise, DPEJ may prove to be reliable and safe.     

Poor results with percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy

A percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy was placed in 20 malnourished patients to serve as a conduit for passage of a percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (PEJ) catheter for delivery of alimentation directly into the small bowel. Serious complications occurred in 95% of the patients and 50% of the subjects died. Aspiration was the most common adverse event and accounted for all deaths. Ten of 15 subjects (67%) treated with a PEJ to prevent aspiration continued to aspirate after the catheter was placed. PEJ tube failures were documented in 14 subjects (70%) and occurred because of occlusion, leakage, malposition, extrusion, cracking, kinking, or rupture of the catheter. These problems rendered the PEJ nonfunctional 18% of the time. Large manpower and resource investments were required to manage the PEJ and its complications. Our results suggest that enteral feeding through a PEJ does not prevent aspiration. Serious PEJ-related morbidity (95%), mortality (50%), and catheter failures (70%) occur. Refinements in methodology and catheter design will be required before additional use of this technique can be recommended.     

Success rate of direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy in patients who are obese

BACKGROUND: Direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (DPEJ) is increasingly used as a method for obtaining jejunal enteral access. The most cited reason of unsuccessful placement is poor transillumination, which may be related to obesity. Whether obesity affects failure and complication rates has not been previously described. OBJECTIVE: To compare the success rate and adverse events (AEs) associated with DPEJ placement in patients who were overweight and patients who were obese compared with patients who were normal or underweight defined by body mass index (BMI). DESIGN: Retrospective database review. SETTING: A tertiary-referral center. PATIENTS: Eighty DPEJ placements between February 2000 and September 2005. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: DPEJ placement success in patients who were overweight/obese (BMI >or= 25) versus patients who were normal or underweight (BMI <25). Secondary end points included procedure time and AEs. RESULTS: Eighty DPEJs were placed in 75 patients. Of these DPEJs, 65 (81%) succeeded and 15 (19%) failed. Success rates were 23 of 24 for patients who were underweight (96%), 25 of 31 for patients with normal BMI (81%), 8 of 11 for patients who were overweight (73%), and 6 of 10 for persons who were obese (60%) (odds ratio 3.43, 95% CI 1.03-11.44; P< .05 for BMI >or= 25 vs BMI<25). Overall, AEs were not significantly different for patients with BMI <25 versus BMI >or=25 (24/55 vs 9/21, respectively; P= .64). However, 4 of the 5 severe AEs occurred in patients with a BMI >or= 25 (P= .07). LIMITATIONS: Retrospective single center. CONCLUSIONS: DPEJ placement in patients who were overweight or obese was feasible, but procedural success was less frequent, and a trend toward more frequent major AEs was seen than in persons with normal or decreased BMI. BMI was an easily assessed preprocedural factor for DPEJ success and complication rates.     

Abdominal CT as a predictor of outcome before attempted direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy

BACKGROUND: Direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (DPEJ) placement succeeds in 72% to 86% of attempts. Failure is most often because of inadequate transillumination or gastroduodenal obstruction. Even in failed cases, patients are exposed to the risks of anesthesia, exploratory percutaneous needle punctures, and the cost burden of suboptimal resource utilization. Hence, a preprocedure predictor of outcome would be useful. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether review of clinically available abdominal CTs can predict the outcome of subsequent DPEJ attempts. DESIGN: Retrospectively conducted blinded review of abdominal CTs performed within 30 days before attempted DPEJ. Objective anatomic features potentially pertinent to DPEJ success were scored, and a prediction of the anticipated procedural outcome was made. SETTING: A large tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: A total of 115 patients who underwent attempted DPEJ and who also had an abdominal CT in the preceding 30 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Reviewer's overall prediction of success, 3 objective anatomic measurements. RESULTS: For the overall prediction of success, a CT performed poorly, with a sensitivity of 60%, a specificity of 53%, a positive predictive value of 71%, and a negative predictive value of 40%. Mean abdominal-wall thickness was significantly greater in the failures than the successes (27 vs 21 mm, P = .02), and just 39% of the procedures in patients with an abdominal-wall thickness >3 cm were successful. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective. CONCLUSIONS: Failed DPEJ attempts were associated with greater patient abdominal-wall thickness, and this should be taken into consideration before attempted DPEJ. Otherwise, review of existing abdominal CTs appears to have limited utility in predicting DPEJ outcome.     

Tube dysfunction following percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and jejunostomy

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and jejunostomy (PEJ) have supplanted their surgical counterparts in many institutions. Previous reports have claimed advantages in placing PEJ tubes because of reduced gastroesophageal reflux, prevention of aspiration, and improved tube anchoring distally. We reviewed the records of 191 patients who underwent placement of PEG/J tubes. Data collected included incidence of tube dysfunction, need for tube replacement or removal, and aspiration after PEG or PEJ tube placement. Tube dysfunction, defined as peritube leakage, plugging, fracture, or migration, occurred in 36% of patients over a mean follow-up period of 275 days and was significantly more common and likely to necessitate tube replacement in PEJ patients. Tube trade-out or removal and aspiration within a 30-day period after tube placement occurred in 28% and 10% of patients, respectively. These complications were significantly more common in PEJ patients than in PEG patients. Because of the increased incidence of tube dysfunction and the failure to prevent aspiration in predisposed patients, PEJ tube placement is not routinely indicated in patients requiring tube feedings.     

Use of a 19-gauge injection needle as a guide for direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy tube placement

BACKGROUND: Direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (DPEJ) tube placement is becoming an accepted means of achieving enteral nutrition. However, during DPEJ placement it can be difficult to maintain the position of the small bowel for insertion of the plastic sheath with stylet, thus limiting the success of the procedure. The results of a technique designed to overcome this problem are presented. METHODS: During DPEJ placement, a 19-gauge injection needle was passed into the bowel at the site of transillumination. The needle was snared tightly, fixing the small bowel against the abdominal wall. The plastic sheath with stylet was then inserted adjacent to the 19-gauge needle and into the small bowel and was subsequently snared to facilitate guidewire passage. A 24F, pull-type PEJ tube was then placed in standard fashion. RESULTS: A DPEJ was placed successfully in 24 of 26 (92.3%) patients with this technique. There was one (4%) major complication: inadvertent small bowel perforation during DPEJ placement. The average time to complete a procedure was 23.3 minutes; the mean time to achieve the dietary goal after DPEJ placement was 39 hours. One patient died of an unrelated illness 6 days after DPEJ placement; 23 were discharged with jejunal feeding. CONCLUSIONS: A DPEJ can be performed successfully by using a 19-gauge injection needle as guide for tube placement.     

Direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy: outcomes in 307 consecutive attempts

BACKGROUND: Clinical utilization of direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (DPEJ) is increasing. However, little data exist regarding important clinical outcomes with DPEJ. OBJECTIVE: To describe the indications, success, and complications of DPEJ in a large cohort of >300 consecutive attempted DPEJ cases at our institution. METHODS: Institutional databases identified 316 consecutive attempted DPEJ placements between January 1996 and August 2004. The medical records of consenting patients were abstracted for demographics, indication, success, complications, and follow-up. A scheme for classifying complication severity was designed. RESULTS: Three hundred and seven attempts at DPEJ were made on 286 patients. Of these, 209 succeeded (68%). The most common indications for DPEJ included resectable distal esophageal cancer, other malignancies causing obstruction, gastroparesis, prior esophageal or gastric resection, and high aspiration risk. Overall, 81 adverse events (AEs) were associated with DPEJ placement or removal in 69 (22.5%) cases. There were 14 serious AEs, 20 moderate AEs, and 47 mild AEs. Serious AEs included 7 bowel perforations, 3 jejunal volvuli, 3 major bleeds, and 1 aspiration. The only death was due to profound jejunal mesenteric bleeding after an unsuccessful trocar pass. Moderate AEs included 9 chronic enterocutaneous fistulae. Many of the 47 mild AEs were site infections requiring oral antibiotics (23) or persistent site pain (14). CONCLUSIONS: DPEJ was associated with a moderate or severe complication in approximately 10% of cases. While DPEJ is a useful technique to gain enteral access that obviates the need for surgery and is more reliable than percutaneous gastrostomy with jejunal extension, patients and physicians should be aware of the risks involved.