Aim:The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term complications and problems related to gastrostomy and jejunostomy feeding tubes used for home enteral nutrition support and the effect these have on health care use.Materials and Methods:The medical records of 31 patients having gastrostomy (27 patients) and jejunostomy (4) feeding tubes inserted in our Department were retrospectively studied. All were discharged on long-term (>3 months) enteral nutrition and followed up at regular intervals by a dedicated nurse. Any problem or complication associated with tube feeding as well as the intervention, if any, that occurred, was recorded. Data were collected and analyzed.Results:All the patients were followed up for a mean of 17.5 months (4–78). The most frequent tube-related complications included inadvertent removal of the tube (broken tube, plugged tube; 45.1%), tube leakage (6.4%), dermatitis of the stoma (6.4%), and diarrhea (6.4%). There were 92 unscheduled health care contacts, with an average rate of such 2.9 contacts over the mean follow-up time of 17.5 months.Conclusion:In patients receiving long-term home enteral nutrition, feeding tube-related complications and problems are frequent and result in significant health care use. Further studies are needed to address their optimal prevention modalities and management.

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Aim: Aortoenteric fistulas are a rare but often fatal cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. Operative repair has been historically associated with extremely high morbidity and mortality. From the literature and our own experience, the mean overall length of stay for patients who are successfully discharged from the hospital appears to be more than 15 days, and oral feeding is frequently delayed. Possibilities of nutritional intervention in vascular surgery patients are important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of parenteral nutrition in patients treated for aortoenteric fistulas. Methods: The records of all patients admitted to the Department of Vascular Surgery with AEFs during the last three years (2007-2009) were reviewed and analysed. Results: During the last three years, five patients were admitted to the Department of Vascular Surgery with AEFs. Their mean age was 55.8 years (range 49-67). Four patients were male and one was female. The mean body mass index was 28.6 kg/m 2 (range 25 to 33.2). The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool score showed a high risk for malnutrition for all the patients. The mean hospital stay was 25.2 days. All five patients were supported with total PN (four central and one peripheral). There were no complications due to PN. Conclusion: Provision of PN support in patients with AEFs may be used without complications.

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