Safe nutritional access in immunosuppressed transplant patients; Laparoscopic gastrostomy/jejunostomy feeding tube

Abstract

End organ disease is associated with sarcopenia and overall poor conditioning and malnutrition. As such, nutritional support is a critical component of post transplant recovery. Yet it is associated with multiple morbidities and is also associated with significant mortality. Morbidities can occur as a result of efforts to deliver sustenance with aspiration leading to pulmonary and infectious complications. Moreover, technical misadventures have been associated with peritonitis secondary to perforation, leaks and malpositioning of percutaneously placed feeding tubes.Herein we describe a safe alternative to deliver critically necessary nutritional support with a laparoscopic assisted gastrostomy or jejunostomy feeding tube.