Percutaneous gastrojejunostomy tubes: Identification of predictors of retrograde jejunal limb migration into the stomach.

PURPOSE: To identify whether technically modifiable factors during gastrojejunostomy (GJ) tube insertion are predictive of retrograde jejunal limb migration into the stomach.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Retrospective review of our procedural database over a 5-year period revealed 988 successful primary GJ tube insertions. Medical records and imaging were reviewed for cases of retrograde jejunal limb migration. Primary analysis was performed on 74 patients with retrograde tip migration within 3 months after placement (37 males, mean age = 57). Comparison was performed on 67 control patients (34 males, mean age = 51) who had radiologically confirmed GJ tube stability for at least 6 months. Procedural fluoroscopic images were analyzed for multiple GJ tube configuration parameters. The stomach was designated into antrum, body, and fundus. Predictors of retrograde tip migration were analyzed with univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 110 patients (11.1%) had retrograde jejunal limb migration, with 74 (7.5%) occurring within 3 months of placement. On multivariate analysis, the factors associated with a significantly lower risk of tip malposition included gastric puncture site in the antrum (OR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.13-0.56, p < 0.001) and GJ tract angle less than 30 degrees away from the pylorus (OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.16-0.76, p = 0.008). No patient in either cohort had a major complication within 30 days of procedure.

CONCLUSION

To minimize the risk of retrograde tip migration, GJ tubes should be inserted into the gastric antrum with an entry tract oriented as directly towards the pylorus as possible.