Role of Roux-en-Y feeding jejunostomy for patients with acute head injury.

The total care of a patient with severe head injury is challenging and may extend for weeks, months, or even years. A major challenge of this care includes nutritional support: swallowing is impaired, aspiration accompanies gastric tube feeding, parenteral nutrition is limited to short term in hospital care, and needle jejunostomy or transabdominal jejunostomy are prone to inadvertent removal. The role of Roux-en-Y feeding jejunostomy was evaluated in 13 patients with acute head injury. Procedure related complications include prolapse of the ostomy (1 patient) and stoma-ischemia requiring revision (1 patient). The effect of ostomy tube feedings on gastric acid secretions was studied in five patients, and no significant change was noted when saline feeding was compared to blenderized diet feeding. Blenderized diet feedings were advanced gradually, and antidiarrheals were added as needed once gastrointestinal function returned. In conclusion, Roux-en-Y feeding jejunostomy provides an attractive, safe method for long-term enteral nutrition in the head injury patient. Easy replacement of the feeding tube facilitates nursing care, and the threat of acid-induced stress gastric bleeding is not enhanced.