Abstract

Inadequate or absence of oral feeding including gastric decompression arising from multiple causes constitutes the indications for gastrostomy/jejunostomy. The clinical spectrum includes but not limited to improving nutritional status and reducing weight loss and avoiding bronchopulmonary complications. To highlight the profile and clinical spectrum of indications and challenges for gastrostomy or jejeunostomy in a low-income-setting. A retrospective study spanning 12 years (2010 -2021) evaluating the indications for gastrostomy in two tertiary hospitals was performed. The data were obtained from the surgical wards and operative registers including the hospitals’ medical record department data base. The data obtained were demography, types of gastrostomy, profile and clinical spectrum of indications for gastrostomy or jejunostomy. A total 119 patients with male to female ratio of 8:5 had the procedure. The types done were 86(86.6%) open, 16(13.4%) closed gastrostomy and 17(14.3%) open jejunostomy. Age ranges of patients affected (open gastrostomy or jejunostomy) were between 0-10 yrs(19.1%) and 81-90 yrs(2.4%) with a mean of 53+0.54 yrs. That for close gastrostomy, the age ranges of (0-10yrs) and (81-90yrs) were 0% and 2.5% respectively, with a mean of 66 + 0.35 yrs were noted. The clinical profile and spectrum of indications were non-functional and functional gastrointestinal tract. Gastrostomy or jejunostomy whether closed or open is essential in the management of patients with impaired spontaneous oral feeding from a variety of causes. Surgical (open) gastrostomy or jejunostomy appeared to be the major type in our sub-region, mainly because of the types of the pathology.

Key words:  Gastrostomy, enteral, parenteral, feeding, malnutrition, complications, jejunostomy.

Abbreviation

UNTHE - University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu. AEFUTHA - Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakiliki