A Minimally Invasive, Visualized Method for Nasojejunal Tube Placement

Malnutrition is a common issue in critically ill patients, often stemming from illness, injury, or surgery. Prolonged fasting leads to intestinal issues, emphasizing the importance of early enteral nutrition, specifically through jejunal nutrition. While enteral nutrition is crucial, complications with current techniques exist. Nasojejunal (NJ) tubes are commonly used, with placement methods categorized as surgical or non-surgical. Non-surgical methods, including endoscopic guidance, have varying success rates, with endoscopic-assisted placement being the most successful but requiring specialized expertise and logistics.

This study introduces a bedside, visualized method for NJ tube placement to enhance success rates and reduce patient discomfort in the intensive care unit (ICU). In this study involving 19 ICU patients, the method achieved an initial success rate of 94.74% with an average insertion time of 11.2 ± 6.4 min. This visualized method demonstrates efficiency and reduces the need for additional imaging, and the introduction of a miniaturized endoscope shows promise, enabling successful intubation at the bedside and minimizing patient discomfort. Adjustments to the guidewire lens and catheter are necessary but pose opportunities for future refinements.