Improve the success rate of inserting and intubating the spiral nasojejunal tube with bare hands

[Objective] To improve the success rate of spiral nasojejunal tube insertion through training of blind insertion of spiral nasojejunal tube with bare hands. [Methods] A total of 49 patients (5 of them were secondary intubation) who were admitted to the emergency department of our hospital from April 2, 2019 to June 17, 2021 needed to undergo blind hand intubation treatment with a nasal jejunal tube. The nurses who were recruited to participate in Guangdong. The enteral nutrition intubation training class hosted by the Provincial Nursing Society Critical Care Committee has been divided into two groups: the experimental group after training (n=28) and the control group before training (n=21) at the aim of comparing the success rate of one-time catheterization of patients in the two groups. [Results] The success rate of nurses' bare-handed blind insertion of the nasal jejunal tube increased from 43% to 86% (p<0.01). [Conclusion] Carrying out the training of blind insertion of nasal jejunal tube with bare hands can improve the success rate of tube placement for nurses in emergency department.

Efficacy of Nasogastric and Nasojejunal Enteral Feeding in the Early Phase of Acute Pacreatitis

Enteral nutrition in the early phase of predicted severe acute pancreatitis can be administered via a nasogastric or nasojejunal tube. Finding the most effective method in terms of daily balance, the volume of feeding and residual gastric volume in the early period of moderate and severe acute pancreatitis is a current challenge.The aim of the study was to estimate the efficacy of nasogastric and nasojejunal early enteral feeding duringthe early phase of predicted severe acute pancreatitis.Material and methods. The study was prospective, single-center, and randomized. The data were collected from November 2012 to October 2018. The study included 64 ICU patients in the early period of acute pancreatitis exhibiting predictors of severity. During randomization, the patients were assigned to either nasogastric (group 1) or nasojejunal (group 2) feeding for the next four days. The volume of enteral feeding on Day 1 was 250 ml/day, and on each successive day it was increased by 250 ml/day. During group allocation, the disease severity and the way of nutrient administration were taken into account. Daily balance was calculated using the difference between enterally administered and residual gastric volume. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v.23 software package. The null hypothesis was rejected at P0.05.Results. The volume of enteral nutrition administered over 4 days did not differ between the study groups. Patients with severe acute pancreatitis had significantly better nutrient absorption over 4 days when the postpyloric route was used (1.63±0.98 l/d) vs the nasogastric one (0.55±0.29 l/d) (P=0.001). In moderate pancreatitis, the enteral nutrition absorption over 4 days did not differ (P=0.107) between the groups with nasogastric (2.06±0.87 l/day) and nasojejunal (2.6±0.45 l/day) feeding.Conclusion. Nasojejunal route is the preferred way to start enteral feeding in patients with severe acute pancreatitis. In moderate acute pancreatitis, feeding can be initiated via the gastric route and only in case of intolerance it should be switched to the nasojejunal one.

Iatrogenic esophageal perforation with mediastinitis, multidisciplinary management: a case report

Acute mediastinitis is a low incidence pathology, but it is associated with a high mortality rate. Iatrogenic lesions are the most common cause of mediastinitis secondary to esophageal perforation. Early diagnosis and surgical treatment are the most important factors in the treatment of patients with this condition. 83-year-old female patient, with a history of left saphenectomy due to venous insufficiency with difficult intubation two days prior to the emergency consultation. She was admitted to the emergency room due to dyspnea, hemoptysis, chest pain, and right hemifacial edema. A chest tomography was performed with findings suggestive of esophageal perforation or airway injury. Later, in an upper digestive tract study, extravasation of the contrast medium was documented in the right posterolateral wall of the cervical esophagus with a collection in the middle mediastinum. The patient was taken for drainage of mediastinitis by right thoracoscopy and the presence of a perforation in the cervical esophagus was confirmed with an intraoperative endoscopy. Esophageal repair was performed, with drainage of the prevertebral space and the superior mediastinum by a left longitudinal cervicotomy. Postoperatively, she received antibiotic and enteral nutritional support by a nasojejunal tube. Low output fistula of the cervical esophagus, organized by a drain, was documented, which closed after 4 weeks of conservative management. Iatrogenic esophageal perforation with mediastinitis is a very rare entity with a high mortality. Early surgical treatment is the most important prognostic factor in patients with mediastinitis due to esophageal perforation.

Ultrasound-Assisted versus Endoscopic Nasojejunal Tube Placement for Acute Pancreatitis: A Retrospective Feasibility Study

Objective. The optimal technique for nasojejunal tube (NJT) placement in terms of facilitating early enteral nutrition (EN) in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) is unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of two common techniques on EN implementation and clinical outcomes in a group of AP patients. Methods. This is a retrospective study. All the data were extracted from an electronic database from August 2015 to October 2017. Patients with a diagnosis of AP requiring NJT placement were retrospectively analyzed. The primary outcome was the successful procedural rate. Results. A total of 53 eligible patients were enrolled, of whom 30 received an ultrasound-assisted technique and the rest received the endoscopy method ( n = 23 ). There was no difference in success rates of initial placement procedures between the two groups (93.3% and 95.7% in the ultrasound-assisted group and endoscopy group, respectively). The mean amount of EN delivery within the first three days after NJT placement was significantly higher in the ultrasound-assisted group (841.4 kcal (95% CI: 738.8, 944 kcal) vs. 652.5 kcal (95% CI: 562.5, 742.6 kcal), P = 0.018 ). Moreover, a slight increased postprocedural intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) was observed in patients undergoing endoscopic procedures, but not in the ultrasound-assisted group, especially at 6 hours after NJT placement (0.35 vs. -2.01 from baseline, P < 0.05 ). For clinical outcomes, we observed no difference between groups. Conclusion. Compared with endoscopic procedures, ultrasound-assisted NJT placement possesses the acceptable success rates of initial placement procedures.

Comparison of the Initiation Time of Enteral Nutrition for Critically Ill Patients: At Admission vs. 24 to 48 Hours after Admission

Objective. To investigate the better time of initiation of enteral nutrition for critically ill patients, such as at admission or 24 to 48 hours after admission. Methods. This was a prospective, randomized, parallel-controlled, single-blind, interventional clinical trial. A total of 100 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of our hospital between January 2017 and December 2018 were recruited in this study. These patients had been divided into the control group or intervention group by a computer-generated random number table, and each group had 50 patients. For the control group, a gastric tube was inserted to start enteral nutrition at 24 to 48 hours after admission. For the intervention group, a nasojejunal tube was placed to start enteral nutrition at admission. The main endpoints included serum albumin and prealbumin at admission and on days 3, 7, and 14 after admission, length of ICU stay, ventilator time, and complications such as diarrhea, gastric retention, esophageal reflux, and pulmonary infection. Results. The results showed that serum albumin and prealbumin were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group ( P < 0.05). The length of ICU stay ( P < 0.05) and ventilator time ( P < 0.05) were both significantly shorter in the intervention group than in the control group. The incidences of gastric retention, esophageal reflux, and pulmonary infection were significantly lower in the intervention group than those in the control group ( P < 0.05). Conclusion. In the absence of contraindications, enteral nutrition can be initiated immediately after admission to the ICU (within 6 hours), and feeding nasojejunal tube is recommended. It can improve the nutritional status and prognosis of critical patients, improve the feeding effect, shorten the length of stay in the ICU and the use of the ventilator, and reduce the incidence of complications.

Nutrition and Antibiotics for Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is a sudden inflammatory disease that could be developed into a fatal condition. Traditional dogma was to rest the pancreas by fasting. However, evidence shows the benefits of early enteral feeding resulting in a shorter hospital stay, improved mortality, multi-organ failure, systemic infections, and the need for operative interventions. Clinicians should encourage enteral feeding as soon as possible even in severe acute pancreatitis if there are no contraindications. An immediate solid diet could be attempted. Regarding tube feeding, the nasojejunal tube did not show superiority to the nasogastric tube. Different formulas and probiotics need more investigation. Guidelines are against using prophylactic antibiotics, but Korean centers still report overuse of antibiotics. However, there is still a debate about using prophylactic antibiotics in severe acute pancreatitis. Broad-spectrum antibiotics should be initiated when an infection is suspected. In conclusion, enteral nutritional support and optimal use of antibiotics are the keys to the management of acute pancreatitis.

Single Session of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Decompensated Cirrhosis: An open-label randomized control trial

Background: Modulation of gut dysbiosis with Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) is a novel modality and has shown promising results in decompensated cirrhosis (DC). We explored the impact of FMT on prognostic scores, complications, ammonia levels, inflammatory markers [(Interleukin -1 (IL-1) and 6 (IL-6)], and 180-day mortality in DC.Methods: Consecutive patients with DC (MELD12-21) were assigned to either FMT (FMT group) delivered as 30gm freshly prepared stool (from a related stool donor) homogenized in 100 ml of normal saline through a nasojejunal tube or standard of care therapy (SOC group). Outcomes were assessed on days 7, 28, 90, and 180.Results: Eighteen patients each with comparable baseline characteristics (88.8% males; mean age, 46.12±6.23 vs. 47.0±4.54; mean CTP, 9.5±0.71 vs. 9.6±0.80; mean MELD, 16.1±1.71 vs. 1.62±1.81) were allocated to FMT or SOC. Although significant differences were noted in the CTP score on day 7 (P=0.02) and day 90 (P=0.01), MELD and MELD-Na scores were similar at all time points. A non-significant reduction in ammonia levels was seen on day 7 and day 28 (P=0.21 and P=0.17; respectively). IL-1 (P=0.01) and IL 6 (P=0.005) levels reduced significantly on day 28. New-onset variceal bleed (P=0.70), breakthrough hepatic encephalopathy events (P=0.61) and 180-day survival (HR, 2.02; 95% CI, 0.37-11.05; P=0.41). were similar. Although transient gastrointestinal side-effects were common (56.2%), no serious adverse events were noted.Conclusion: Single session FMT in DC is safe and leads to selective improvement of CTP scores and systemic inflammatory markers but offers no survival benefit. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04842539)

Nutritional Support in Patients with Severe Acute Pancreatitis-Current Standards

Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) leads to numerous inflammatory and nutritional disturbances. All SAP patients are at a high nutritional risk. It has been proven that proper nutrition significantly reduces mortality rate and the incidence of the infectious complications in SAP patients. According to the literature, early (started within 24–48 h) enteral nutrition (EN) is optimal in most patients. EN protects gut barrier function because it decreases gastrointestinal dysmotility secondary to pancreatic inflammation. Currently, the role of parenteral nutrition (PN) in SAP patients is limited to patients in whom EN is not possible or contraindicated. Early versus delayed EN, nasogastric versus nasojejunal tube for EN, EN versus PN in SAP patients and the role of immunonutrition (IN) in SAP patients are discussed in this review.

The Effect and Nursing of Indwelling Nasal Jejunal Feeding Tube for Enteral Nutrition in Acute Severe Pancreatitis

Objective: To analyze the effect of enteral nutrition and nursing intervention in patients with indwelling nasojejunal tube in acute severe pancreatitis. Methods: Sixty cases of patients with indwelt nasojejunal tubes treated in our hospital from August 2019 to August 2020 were divided into routine group and observation group as research subjects. Patients in both groups received enteral nutrition, patients in the routine group received routine care, and patients in the observation group received quality care. The recovery time of gastrointestinal function, length of hospital stay, hospitalization cost, nutritional indicators and incidence of complications in the two groups were compared. Results: The recovery time of gastrointestinal function in observation group was lower than that in routine group, P<0.05; The length and cost of hospitalization in observation group were lower than those in routine group, P<0.05; The nutritional indexes in observation group were higher than those in routine group, P<0.05; The incidence of complications in observation group was lower than that in routine group, P<0.05. Conclusion: Quality nursing service improve the effect of enteral nutrition, so as to ensure that patients get sufficient nutritional support. Its effect is remarkable and it is worthy of widespread clinical application.

Predicting The Feasibility of Small Bowel Feeding in Patients With Generalized Secondary Peritonitis

Finding a simple reproducible routine test is relevant for the determination of post-pyloric feeding tolerance.Aim. To evaluate in a pilot study the usefulness of acetaminophen absorption test with post-pyloric drug administration in patients with generalized secondary peritonitis.Materials and methods. Acetaminophen absorption test was performed in patients with generalized secondary peritonitis. 0.5 g of drug was administered into the lumen of the small intestine through the nasojejunal tube and after 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 90 min its blood level was determined. The first group (n=14) of variables was taken from patients whose test was performed immediately after the surgery. The second group results (n=10) were obtained from the same patients who were tested when they were able to absorb >1 l/day of enteral nutrition without signs of intolerance.Results. When comparing the concentration of acetaminophen in the blood after the drug administration into the bowel of patients with peritonitis immediately after surgery and at the time when the assimilation of bowel feeding had become possible, it was found that the most significant differences were detected within the time interval of 5–20 minutes after the drug administration (P<0.001). This time interval is optimal for harvesting blood samples during the acetaminophen test procedure.Conclusion. Bowel absorption of acetaminophen may be informative for predicting the feasibility of adequate post-pyloric enteral feeding of patients with generalized secondary peritonitis.