Distal enteral feeding can replace total parenteral feeding to support nutrition in patients with high output stoma (jejunostomy) – A case series

Background Ostomy/Stoma is a common entity in patients operated for small bowel perforation in developing countries. Delay in presentation, poor general condition, malnutrition and lack of health infrastructure in peripheral areas are some of the causes leading to severe sepsis at presentation. Exteriorising the perforation site as stoma/ostomy is the preferred salvage procedure. Proximal stoma/ostomy is high output and cause fluid and electrolyte imbalance. Also it is difficult to maintain nutrition with oral feeds, as partially digested food along with digestive enzymes gets lost through the stoma. Parenteral nutrition (PN) is widely used in these patients, which is expensive requires hospitalisation, also not without risks e.g. liver dysfunction and associated with complications of central line insertion. Aim We hereby report our experience of managing three patients of high output jejunostomy with distal enteral feeding provided by feeding chyme and partially digested food into the distal stoma. Method After confirming the distal patency of the bowel, we started feeding through distal lumen of stoma (known as distal enteral feeding) in our 3 patients with jejunostomies immediately in postoperative period along with PN. After few days we started decreasing PN, we gradually switched to complete enteral nutrition; and increasing distal feeding and then totally stopping the PN in few days only. We kept a watch on the different parameters of the patient like calories and protein intake, weight, electrolytes, liver function, etc. Results Distal enteral feeding improved their body weight, maintained their serum electrolytes and liver function tests including serum albumin. After achieving the good nutritional status, we were able to do successful surgical closure of stomas in all the three patients. Conclusion In our experience, patients with high-output stomas can be nutritionally maintained with distal enteral feeding without the need of long term PN. Use of distal enteral feeding, if used appropriately and with proper monitoring, can nutritionally build up the patient avoiding the complications of PN.