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Feeding Enterostomy for Oesophageal Obstruction
Abstract
Background: Feeding enterostomy is a means for continuing enteral feeding in patients who cannot swallow by normal means and for whom nasogastric intubation is either impossible or contraindicated. It is important to continue enteral feeding because it is cheaper, more physiologic and natural than parenteral feeding. In patients with oesophageal obstruction, percutaneous insertion is all but impossible and laparotomy or mini laparotomy is indicated. This has attendant morbidity in this subset of patients who usually present with established malnutrition.
Aim of the Study: This study was undertaken to audit our practice of feeding enterostomy, the indications, complications and outcome.
Materials and Method: This is a retrospective study of patients who had feeding enterotomy done from June 2003 till June 2010 at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital Benin City, Nigeria.
Result: There were a total of 49 patients with male: female ratio of 2.5:1 and mean age of 26.80. Forty six (46) patients had feeding gastrostomy at the body of the stomach and 3 had feeding jejunostomy. The indications were oesophageal stricture 71.4%, oesophageal atresia 10.2% and oesophageal cancer 10.2%, nasopharyngeal tumors 6.1% and lung cancer made up 2%. Foley’s catheter was used as the gastrostomy tube in all cases with sizes varying from 18 to 32G. Skin excoriations were present in all the cases from spills of gastric and enteric contents. Widening of the stoma and gastric mucosal prolapse occurred in 6 patients who had severe malnutrition.
Conclusion: Open surgical feeding enterostomy still provides a viable option in resource poor settings though there is a higher complication rate than percutaneous enterostomy.
Aim of the Study: This study was undertaken to audit our practice of feeding enterostomy, the indications, complications and outcome.
Materials and Method: This is a retrospective study of patients who had feeding enterotomy done from June 2003 till June 2010 at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital Benin City, Nigeria.
Result: There were a total of 49 patients with male: female ratio of 2.5:1 and mean age of 26.80. Forty six (46) patients had feeding gastrostomy at the body of the stomach and 3 had feeding jejunostomy. The indications were oesophageal stricture 71.4%, oesophageal atresia 10.2% and oesophageal cancer 10.2%, nasopharyngeal tumors 6.1% and lung cancer made up 2%. Foley’s catheter was used as the gastrostomy tube in all cases with sizes varying from 18 to 32G. Skin excoriations were present in all the cases from spills of gastric and enteric contents. Widening of the stoma and gastric mucosal prolapse occurred in 6 patients who had severe malnutrition.
Conclusion: Open surgical feeding enterostomy still provides a viable option in resource poor settings though there is a higher complication rate than percutaneous enterostomy.
