Self-Administered Bolus Jejunostomy Feeding and Gastric Fluid Reinfusion in Patients with Gastric Atony

Abstract

Twelve patients with profound gastric atony were taught to administer their own tube jejunostomy bolus feedings and, when necessary, to manage their gastric secretions by connecting their gastrostomy and jejunostomy tubes. These techniques allowed 11 of 12 patients to obtain reasonable nutrient intake and eight of the 12 to successfully reinfuse retained gastric secretions; alleviating the need for intravenous fluid replacement and expediting hospital discharge. Seven patients were able to resume some oral intake at home after resolution of their gastric atony. In the sufficiently motivated patient with gastric atony from multiple causes, these techniques provide alternatives to indefinite hospitalization with cumbersome and expensive intravenous hyperalimentation or constant infusion enteral alimentation. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 9:626-629, 1985)