Complications and long-term outcome of 80 oncology patients undergoing needle catheter jejunostomy placement for early postoperative enteral feeding

Some findings suggest that needle catheter jejunostomy (NCJ) is associated with a significant rate of potentially dangerous complications. The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the rate and type of early and late complications associated with NCJ in patients with surgical treatment of upper gastrointestinal malignancy. Eighty patients underwent NCJ implan t at the end of their scheduled surgical procedure. Enteral nutrition progr amme was started on postoperative day 1 in the surgical ICU. NCJ was always removed in the outpatient clinic after hospital discharge. One case of tub e blockage has been observed as single short-term complication in this seri es. No long-term complications have been detected after a mean follow-up of 12 months. Routine use of NCJ in malnourished patients undergoing major surgical proce dures on upper gastrointestinal tract is safe and effective. (C) 2000 Harco urt Publishers Ltd.