Evaluation of jejunostomy tube feeding after abdominal surgery in dogs

Objective - To describe the use of postoperative intrajejunal feeding and to evaluate the association of preoperative plasma albumin concentrations with intrajejunal feeding-related complications and clinical outcome. Design - Prospective, observational study. Setting - University veterinary teaching hospital. Animals - Sixty-four dogs. Interventions - Jejunostomy tube placement during abdominal surgery. Measurements and Main Results - Most dogs (81%) survived. The median intrajejunal feeding period was 2.1 days (range: 1-16 days; n = 64). Only 3 (5%) dogs received their estimated resting energy requirement by intrajejunal feeding. Of dogs that were fed intrajejunally (58 out of 64), most (55 out of 58) received intrajejunal feeding within 24 hours after surgery. Energy provision via the jejunal feeding tube did not differ between dogs with and without complications (P = 0.592), or between nonsurvivors and survivors (P = 0.298). Thirty-five dogs ate voluntarily concurrently with intrajejunal feeding. Of dogs that ate voluntarily concurrently with intrajejunal feeding for <= 50% of the postoperative period, most (74%) survived to discharge. Complications were seen in 22% of dogs, and none were life-threatening; gastrointestinal signs were most common. There was no difference in preoperative plasma albumin concentration between dogs with and without complications (P = 0.432) and between nonsurvivors and survivors (P = 0.727). Fecal score was not significantly different between the 2 liquid diets studied (FormulaV Enteral Care HLP and CliniCare Canine/Feline; P = 0.927). Conclusions - A jejunostomy tube placed during abdominal surgery was likely to be used at the study institution. Few complications were seen and none were life-threatening. Intrajejunal feeding was initiated early after surgery and did not interfere with the initiation of voluntary oral intake. Fecal scores were high and were useful for an objective assessment of fecal consistency in dogs with intrajejunal feeding.