Abstract
Aim: To compare the efficacy of blind transpyloric placement using a specifically designed nasojejunal tube (NJT) versus a standard nasogastric tube (NGT) in severe head injury (SHI).
Methods: This was a randomised trial conducted in a neurosurgical intensive care unit. Fourteen patients were enrolled with a Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) less than 8 (mean 6.8 SEM+/-0.36). Patients were randomised to receive either NJT or NGT.
Results: There was an 83% (5/6 patients) spontaneous jejunal placement rate of NJT past the ligament of Treitz. The 17% (1/6 patients) jejunal placement failure rate for NJT was due to inappropriate technique. A 100% (8/8 patients) failure of the unweighted NGTs to pass through the pylorus into the jejunum was recorded (P=0.002).
Conclusion: In SHI, the specifically designed self-propelling NJT was effective in spontaneous transpyloric placement past the ligament of Treitz within 12h of introduction into the gastric cavity. The standard un-weighted NGT was ineffective. Additional studies are warranted to determine the clinical efficacy of this self-propelling NJT
Methods: This was a randomised trial conducted in a neurosurgical intensive care unit. Fourteen patients were enrolled with a Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) less than 8 (mean 6.8 SEM+/-0.36). Patients were randomised to receive either NJT or NGT.
Results: There was an 83% (5/6 patients) spontaneous jejunal placement rate of NJT past the ligament of Treitz. The 17% (1/6 patients) jejunal placement failure rate for NJT was due to inappropriate technique. A 100% (8/8 patients) failure of the unweighted NGTs to pass through the pylorus into the jejunum was recorded (P=0.002).
Conclusion: In SHI, the specifically designed self-propelling NJT was effective in spontaneous transpyloric placement past the ligament of Treitz within 12h of introduction into the gastric cavity. The standard un-weighted NGT was ineffective. Additional studies are warranted to determine the clinical efficacy of this self-propelling NJT
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Clinical Neuroscience |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 5 May 2005 |