Abstract
Recently Cheek and Staub reported no serious complications in 46 infants given continuous nasojejunal tube feeding. We observed serious disturbances in 4 of 13 low-birth-weight infants fed in the same manner. In the 13 infants, mean gestational age was 29.61±1.68 wks and mean birth weight was 1, 176.15±208.23 gm. All except one had respiratory distress syndrome and/or other problems. None was able to be fed orally or by nasogastric tube. Nasojejunal tube feeding was initiated from 2 to 9 days of age. Average duration was 16.0±11.78 days. At the termination of nasojejunal feeding, 8 infants were heavier and 5 lighter than their respective birth weight. Six died. In 2 the cause of death was unrelated to nasojejunal feeding. In 4 the causes of death were as follows: (1) necrotizing gastroentero-colitis with possible rupture of intestine, (2) jejunal perforation with diffuse peritonitis, (3) aspiration pneumonia due to distention of jejunum and ilium and vomiting, (4) jejunojejunal intussusception. The safety of this procedure requires careful evaluation by controlled studies before it can be recommended for routine purposes in small low-birth-weight infants.
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Chen, J., Wong, P. INTESTINAL COMPLICATIONS OF NASOJEJUNAL FEEDING. Pediatr Res 8, 444 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00625
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00625