Laparoscopic surgical transmesocolic jejunostomy: A new surgical approach

Abstract

In cancer patients with tumors of the upper gastrointestinal tract, dysphagia and cachexia require gastrostomy or jejunostomy as the only options for enteral access for long-term feeding. In this article, the authors describe a modified placement of laparoscopic feeding jejunostomy applied during laparoscopic oncology layering technique. After performing an exploratory laparoscopy, a feeding jejunostomy is performed using a Foley silicon catheter, through an eyelet in the mesentery of the descending colon. After completing the introduction of the jejunal probe according to the Witzel technique, the intestinal segment of jejunum is attached to the internal sheath of the mesocolon using sutures polysorb 2/0, with the aim of removing the possible internal hernia and a jejunal torque that could cause an intestinal obstruction. There were no intraoperative complications or mortality. The technique described here provides most of the benefits of laparoscopic jejunostomy feeding, avoiding the possible internal hernia.