Abstract
Background: Anesthetic standard of care is to restrict oral intake for 8 hours before elective surgery. There is no research addressing appropriate preoperative discontinuation of jejunostomy tube (J-tube) feedings. We hypothesized that patients could be fed safely, via a J-tube, until the time of surgery. Methods: Patients admitted to a Level I Trauma Center, having J-tubes and undergoing a nonabdominal operation, were prospectively evaluated. Group I patients received J-tube feedings until transport to the operating room. Group II patients had tube feedings discontinued for at least 8 hours before surgery. Data were compared using the Student's t test and contingency table analysis. Results: There were 46 patients in group I and 36 in group II. There was no incidence of aspiration. Patient groups did not differ in age, mortality, length of stay, injury severity score, or ventilator days. Group I patients had tube feedings discontinued for fewer hours before and after surgery than group II patients (before surgery: 1.40 ± 1.20 vs 11.61 ± 5.01, respectively ; p < .001; after surgery: 2.99 ± 7.49 us 7.11 ± 9.03, respectively; p = .043); received more kilocalories/ grams of protein on the day of surgery (group I vs group II, 1676.15/89.57 ± 1133.21/38.04 us 791.14/57.58 ± 498.66/79.87, respectively; p = .001/p = .032) and more kilocalories/grams of protein on the first postoperative day (group I us group II, 1580.74/92.57 ± 600.53/37.96 vs 1152.47/63.53 ± 733.96/39.40, respectively; p = .006/p = .001). Conclusions: Patients receiving J-tubes who are undergoing nonabdominal operations may safely continue enteral nutrition at maximum protein and caloric intake until surgery. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 23:356-359, 1999)
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