What is a primary percutaneous gastrojejunostomy?
In a primary percutaneous (through the skin) gastrojejunostomy, a tube is placed into your child's stomach as a means of feeding when he is unable to eat or tolerate oral or gastric feeds. The tube is placed into the stomach through the abdominal wall. Doctors in our Division of Interventional Radiology use ultrasound and X-ray to guide the placement of the tube.
The primary gastrojejunostomytube is usually placed under sedation or general anesthesia.
Frequently asked questions
- For children with upper airway abnormalities
- For children with gastroesophageal reflux and aspiration
- For the fragile, complex pediatric patient
Some children may need to have an appointment in the pre-op clinic:
- You will meet with the pre-op nurse and anesthesiologist.
- Laboratory testing will be completed.
- Additional testing may be needed depending on your child's history.
- Prior to the procedure you will also meet an IR nurse practitioner, who will explain the procedure and provide instructions on care of the gastrojejunostomy tube.
- Please plan on at least two to four hours for the pre-op visit.
Your child may receive general anesthesia to help him stay still during the procedure. General anesthesia is medicine that causes deep sleep. The anesthesiologist will discuss this with you and obtain consent, either the day of the procedure or at a scheduled pre-operative visit.
Explain in simple terms why the procedure is needed and what will happen.
- Assure your child that you will be close by during the procedure.
- Your child may bring a favorite toy or blanket into the room.
All patients are admitted to the hospital after the procedure to start feeds. You can anticipate at least a 48-hour admission.
You will be instructed by the day surgery nurse or at the time of your pre-op visit
- Where and when you will need to arrive for your procedure
- When your child should stop eating or drinking
The interventional radiologist will explain the procedure to you and your child. Before the procedure begins, you must sign a consent form. You must be your child's legal guardian to sign this form. If you are a legal guardian and not a parent, you must bring legal paperwork with you showing proof of legal guardianship.
- You and your child will be brought into the room where the procedure is done. You may be able to stay until your child becomes drowsy or falls asleep.
- At the beginning of the procedure, the interventional radiologist will examine his upper abdomen using an ultrasound probe.
- A tube will be passed through his nose into his stomach and used to inject some air.
- After injecting some local anesthetic (numbing medication) into the skin, the interventional radiologist will use the x-ray monitor to guide the passage of a needle through the skin and into his stomach.
- A guide wire, which deploys the retention suture, is then passed through the needle and the needle is removed.
- A catheter is then passed along the guide wire and advanced through the duodenum into the jejunum.
- The catheter is then exchanged for the gastrojejunostomy tube over the guide wire.
The procedure will take approximately two to three hours.
- A nurse will take your child to the Interventional Radiology Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). You will be allowed to come to the recovery area.
- The nurse will monitor your child closely until your child is transferred to the floor.
- The interventional radiologist will speak with you about the procedure.
Primary percutaneous gastrojejunostomy, when performed by an appropriately trained and experienced interventional radiologist, is a safe procedure which can usually be performed under sedation or general anesthesia. As with all invasive procedures, complications and side effects may occur. These will be explained to you in detail before you give your consent.
Your child will be exposed to ionizing radiation (x-rays) during the procedure. We believe that the benefit to your child's health outweighs the exposure that occurs during the primary percutaneous gastrojejunostomy. Because children are more sensitive to radiation exposure than adults, we have been leaders in adjusting equipment and procedures to deliver the lowest possible dose to young patients.
The interventional radiologist will inform you of the results immediately after the procedure. If you have any questions, please speak to your child's doctor.
How Boston Children's Hospital approaches primary placement of percutaneous gastrojejunostomy
Our pediatric interventional radiologists, the doctors who do the procedure, are highly trained in the performance of invasive procedures on infants and children.
In addition to the interventional radiologist, your child will be cared for by a team of anesthesiologists, nurse practitioners, nurses, and technologists who specialize in caring for children undergoing interventional radiology procedures and treatments.
We perform primary percutaneous gastrojejunostomies in our suite on the second floor of the hospital, which features three procedure rooms equipped with the latest imaging technology, a recovery area for patients who have received sedation or anesthesia, and examining rooms for outpatient visits.
Contact us
Boston Children's Hospital
300 Longwood Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: 617-355-6579
Fax: 617-730-0541
