Placement of jejunostomy tubes for nutritional support in patients undergoing upper digestive tract surgery is common practice. In nutritionally depleted cancer patients requiring adjuvant chemotherapy and its associated side effects including food intolerance, their role is even more pronounced. Moreover, enteral feeding has been shown to be superior to intravenous feeding as it maintains the integrity of the mucosa with trophic factors preventing bacterial translocation and enhancing immunity. However, placement of jejunostomy feeding tubes is not without complications. Tube dislodgment, small bowel obstruction, and surgical site infection are among the complications and may occur. Despite advances in surgical technique and equipment, percutaneous needle catheters and laparoscopy, the complication rate has remained substantially consistent. All current methods, whether open, laparoscopic, or percutaneous are based on fixing the small bowel to the abdominal wall and cannulation of the small bowel at that level. Considering that the small bowel is not naturally a fixed organ, and that many of the complications such as obstruction and tube dislodgment are a direct cause of this fixation, a method that does not fix the bowel to the anterior abdominal wall is proposed.
In accordance with the foregoing objectives and others, one embodiment of the present invention provides jejunostomy feeding devices and methods for placement thereof.
In one aspect, a jejunostomy feeding device is provided. The device includes an elongate flexible member extending from a proximal end to a distal end defining a feeding lumen extending therethrough and including a first balloon attached to a distal portion of the flexible member and a second balloon attached to the flexible member proximally of the first balloon, the second balloon including a groove extending about at least a portion of a circumference thereof to anchor the second balloon within target anchoring tissue upon inflation thereof, wherein the first balloon and the second balloon are separated by a first distance selected so that when the second balloon is positioned at a target site within a target body lumen, the second balloon anchors the first balloon within the target body lumen positioned so that the first balloon presses against an inner wall of the body lumen to seal an entry point at which the flexible member enters the body lumen. In one embodiment, the first balloon is inflatable via a first inflation lumen extending through the flexible member and the second balloon is inflatable via a second inflation lumen extending through the flexible member. In an embodiment, the first and second inflation lumens extend from respective proximal openings formed in a proximal portion of the flexible member to openings within the first and second balloons, respectively. In another embodiment, the first distance is between 3 and 5 cm. In an embodiment, each of the proximal openings are in open communication with an access port. In another embodiment, the first balloon is positioned approximately 5 cm from the distal end of the flexible member. In a further embodiment, the flexible member includes a plurality of openings along a distal end thereof in communication with the feeding lumen. In a further embodiment, the device further includes a weighted distal tip coupled to the distal end of the flexible member.
In one aspect, a method for placement of a jejunostomy feeding device is provided. The method includes advancing an elongate flexible member into a small bowel along a path parallel to a known blood vessel, the flexible member extending from a proximal end to a distal end and including a feeding lumen extending therethrough, the flexible member having a length selected so that, when the distal end is in the small bowel, the proximal end is outside the body, inserting a distal end of the flexible member into the small bowel through a mesenteric side thereof until a distal portion of the flexible member extends within the small bowel, the distal portion of the flexible member including a first balloon attached thereto, inflating the first balloon within the small bowel, and inflating a second balloon attached to the flexible member proximally of the first balloon within the mesentery, the second balloon including an anchoring element to anchor the flexible member at a target location within the mesentery upon inflation thereof. In one embodiment, the anchoring element is a groove extending about at least a portion of a circumference of the second balloon. In an embodiment, the method further includes inserting a needle into the mesentery tangentially at an angle of substantially 0 degrees towards the anti-mesenteric side of the small bowel to determine an insertion path along which the flexible member is to be advanced into the small bowel. In another embodiment, the method further includes inserting a guide wire through the needle and into the small bowel along the insertion path. In a further embodiment, the first balloon is inflatable via a first inflation lumen. In another embodiment, the second balloon is inflatable via a second inflation lumen.
In one aspect, method for placement of a feeding device is provided. The method includes advancing an elongate flexible member into a small bowel along a path parallel to a known blood vessel, the flexible member extending from a proximal end to a distal end and including a feeding lumen extending therethrough. The method also includes inserting a distal end of the flexible member into the small bowel through a mesenteric side thereof until a distal portion of the flexible member extends within the small bowel, the distal portion of the flexible member including a first balloon attached thereto. The method further includes inflating a second balloon attached to the flexible member proximally of the first balloon within the mesentery to fix the first balloon in a target location. In one embodiment, the second balloon includes an anchoring element to anchor the flexible member at a target location within the mesentery upon inflation thereof. In an embodiment, the method includes inflating the first balloon so that the first balloon presses against an inner wall of the body lumen to seal an entry point at which the flexible member enters the body lumen. In another embodiment, the method includes inserting a needle into the mesentery tangentially at an angle of substantially 0 degrees towards the anti-mesenteric side of the small bowel to determine an insertion path along which the flexible member is to be advanced into the small bowel. In a further embodiment, the method further includes inserting a guide wire through the needle and into the small bowel along the insertion path. In a further embodiment, the first balloon is inflatable via a first inflation lumen and the second balloon is inflatable via a second inflation lumen.
The present disclosure may be further understood with reference to the following description and the appended drawings, wherein like elements are referred to with the same reference numerals. The present embodiments relate generally to jejunostomy feeding devices and methods of placement thereof. In particular, the present embodiments relate to devices and method of anchoring a jejunostomy feeding catheter within the mesentery. However, the present embodiments may be employed with any of a plurality of treatment procedures involving catheters and related devices. As used in this application, the terms proximal and distal refer to a direction along the feeding catheter with a first end of the catheter being identified as the proximal end and a second end of the catheter being identified as distal.
As shown in
The ports 105a, 105b, 105c are each coupled to a corresponding lumen 108a, 108b, 108c, respectively, extending down a portion of the length of the flexible member 102. In an exemplary embodiment shown in
Each of the lumens 108 extends to a corresponding distal end including at least one exit port. In an exemplary embodiment, main lumen 108a extends the length of the flexible member 102 to the distal end 106. The lumen 108a has an opening at the distal end 106 to allow flow of fluid into the patient's jejunum. Thus, fluid communication is established from the main flexible member flushing access port 105a through the lumen 108a to the exterior of the distal end of the flexible member 102. In an exemplary embodiment, flexible member 102 also includes a plurality of openings 116 extending through a wall of the distal portion of the flexible member 102 to open the lumen 108a to the exterior of the member 102. The openings 116 in this embodiment are distributed about the circumference of the member 102 in a substantially helical pattern and, in this embodiment, are distributed evenly around a circumference of the flexible member 102. It is noted however, that openings 116 may be formed in any pattern or arrangement on the flexible member 102 without deviating from the scope of the present embodiments. For example, in an alternate embodiment (not shown), the openings 116 may be situated around only a portion of the circumference of the flexible member 102. The diameter of each of the openings 116 is selected to allow fluid to flow therethrough. For example, the openings 116 may have a diameter of 3.3 mm.
The lumen 108b extends from a proximal end 110b in communication with the mesenteric balloon insufflation port 105b to a distal opening 118 in communication with an annular space 120 of the mesenteric balloon 112, as will be described in further detail below. The distal opening 118 allows fluid/gas to flow into and out of the annular space 120 to inflate or deflate the balloon 112. Similarly, lumen 108c extends from proximal end 110c in communication with the intralumenal balloon insufflation port 105c to a distal opening 122 at a distal end in communication with an annular space 124 of the intralumenal balloon 114. The distal opening 122 allows for fluid/gas to flow into and out of the annular space 124 to inflate or deflate the balloon 114. Each of the distal openings 118, 122 may be formed as a single opening or a plurality of openings so long as a fluid tight seal is formed between the lumens 108b, 108c and the annular spaces 120, 124 of their respective balloons 112, 114.
The distal end 106 of the flexible member 102 of this embodiment is adapted to terminate within the jejunum. However, the path and positioning of the distal portion of the flexible member 102 including its distal end 106, will vary from patient to patient. For example, the placement may depend to some degree on the method of insertion or placement. To assist in the placement of the device 100, the flexible member 102 may include a weighted distal tip 126 attached to the distal end 106. The distal tip 126 may be formed as a substantially rigid tip to aid in placement of the distal end 106. Furthermore, the distal tip 126 may resist collapse of the end 106 of the flexible member 102, preventing or reducing the likelihood of blockage or clogging of the flexible member 102. In an exemplary embodiment, the tip 126 is rounded to prevent abrasion to surrounding tissue or blood vessels.
The mesenteric balloon 112 is movable between a deflated state and an inflated state and is used to assist with the positioning of the flexible member 102. The balloon 112 may be formed as a substantially cylindrical sleeve overlying and extending about a distal portion of the flexible member 102. The balloon 112 may be attached to the flexible member 102 at, for example, proximal and distal ends of the balloon 112, or, in another example, may be attached to the flexible member 102 along an entirety of the length of the balloon 112. In another embodiment, the balloon 112 may be unitarily formed with the flexible member 102 or secured to the interior of the flexible member 102. The balloon 112 may be formed of rubber or any other suitable elastomeric material and is preferably sufficiently thin so that it is easily movable through a lumen or a target path alongside blood vessels in a deflated state. In an inflated state, the balloon 112 has a volume of between 0.5 ml and 1.5 ml. Once inflated, the mesenteric balloon 112 serves to keep the flexible member 102 in place such that can not easily be withdrawn or dislodged from the target position at which it was inflated within the mesentery. That is, the balloon 112 generally inflates or expands so that the flexible member 102 is retained in place until the balloon 12 is deflated and withdrawn from the target position. When the balloon 112 is in the deflated state as shown in
Similarly to the expandable mesenteric balloon 112, the intralumenal balloon 114 is movable between a deflated state and an inflated state and is used to assist with the positioning of the flexible member 102 within the lumen 10 of a target organ (e.g., the small bowel 10). The balloon 114 may be formed as a substantially spherical sleeve overlying and extending about the flexible member 102. The balloon 114 may be attached to the flexible member 102 at, for example, proximal and distal ends of the balloon 114, or, in another example, the balloon 114 may be attached to the flexible member 102 along an entire length of the balloon 114. In another embodiment, the balloon 114 may be unitarily formed with the flexible member 102 or secured to the interior of the flexible member 102. The balloon 114 may be formed of rubber or any other suitable material and is preferably sufficiently thin so that, in the deflated state, it is easily movable through tissue, through a body lumen or any other target path (e.g., alongside blood vessels 20) to the target site in the body. In the inflated state, the balloon 114 has a volume of between 0.5 ml and 1.5 ml. Once inflated, the intralumenal balloon 114 serves to keep the flexible member 102 in place such that it is not readily removed or dislodged from the target site (e.g., within the jejunum). That is, the balloon 114 generally inflates or expands so that the flexible member 102 is retained in a target position until the balloon 114 is deflated and withdrawn therefrom. The intralumenal balloon 114, when inflated, is also positioned to press against the inner wall of the small bowel lumen 10 to seal the entry point at which the flexible member 102 entered the lumen. Such sealing prevents leakage of gastric contents via the tunnel formed by the flexible member 102. When the balloon 114 is in the deflated state as shown in
An exemplary method for placement of device 100 can be seen in
After the flexible device 102 is in a target position, the device 100 is fixed in this position by inflating the mesenteric balloon 112 through insertion of fluid, such as water, into the mesenteric balloon insufflation port 105b. After the balloon 112 has been inflated, the groove 118 anchors the balloon 112 in the mesentery. The intralumenal balloon 114 may then be inflated through introduction of fluid, such as water, into the intralumenal insufflation port 105c. It will be understood that the intralumenal balloon 114 may be inflated before, after, or concurrently with inflation of the mesenteric balloon 112. When the balloon 114 is inflated, it presses against an inner wall of the small bowel 10 sealing the entry point thereto and preventing leakage of gastric contents via the tunnel formed by the needle 40. Once both balloons 112, 114 have been inflated in their target positions, the small bowel 10 is dropped back into the peritoneal cavity and the flexible member 102 is brought through the fascia. The device 100 is then fixed to the patient at the skin level to be clamped or accessed as needed.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made to the structure and methodology of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention covers all modifications and variations so long as they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
The present disclosure claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/458,333 filed Feb. 13, 2017; the disclosure of which is incorporated herewith by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62458333 | Feb 2017 | US |