Impact of transnasal feeding tube or percutaneous jejunal feeding tube on peri-operative nutrition support in esophageal carcinoma patients

ObjectiveTo compare the roles of transnasal （TN） feeding tube or percutaneous jejunal （PJ） feeding tube for peri-operative nutrition support in esophageal carcinoma patients. MethodFrom February 2011 to March 2012, patients with esophageal carcinoma underwent Ivor-Lewis or three-incision（right thoracotomy, middle laparotomy and left/right cervical incisions） by the same group of thoracic surgeons were selectively divided into two groups： TN group, supported with transnasal feeding tube （n=48）, and PJ group, supported with percutaneous jejunal feeding tube （n=38）. ResultsAccording to the evaluation by NRS 2002, the total nutritional risk rate among these esophageal carcinoma patients was 25.58%. No enteral feeding pathway-related complication was noticed. The starting time of enteral nutrition support, post-operative hospital stay, and duration of systemic inflammatory response syndrome showed no significant difference between these two groups. The starting time of enteral nutrition was similar in these two groups （P=0.561）; however, the time needed for full enteral nutrition was longer in the PJ group than in the TN group （P=0.032）. In addition, patients in the PJ group had significantly better scores on the degree of comfort than those in the TN group [1.00（3.00） vs 6.00（3.00）] （P=0.000）. ConclusionsBoth enteral feeding pathways are safe and suitable to postoperative enteral nutrition support. PJ nutritional tubes are recommended for esophageal carcinoma patients to feel more comfortable post-operatively Key words: Esophageal carcinoma;  Postoperative nutrition;  Transnasal feeding tube;  Percutaneous jejunal nutritional tube