A rare twist: Intussusception triggered by a jejunostomy tube

TL;DR

A rare case of bowel blockage caused by a feeding tube in a cancer patient highlights the need for early diagnosis and surgery to prevent serious complications.

Contribution

Reports a rare case of jejunostomy tube-induced intussusception and emphasizes early detection and intervention.

Findings

Intussusception occurred in a patient with a jejunostomy tube, causing bowel obstruction.

CT imaging showed a 'target sign' at the ileocecal valve, confirming the diagnosis.

Surgical intervention was necessary to resect the affected bowel and prevent ischemia.

Abstract

Jejunostomy-related intussusception is an exceptionally rare postoperative complication, accounting for less than 1% of all small-bowel obstructions. It may result from mechanical irritation or altered motility around the feeding tube. We describe the case of a 63-year-old man with unresectable adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia who underwent exploratory laparotomy with placement of a feeding jejunostomy, followed by palliative chemotherapy. A few days after surgery, he developed progressive abdominal distension and clinical signs of bowel obstruction. Abdominal CT revealed small-bowel dilatation and a characteristic “target sign’’ at the ileocecal valve, consistent with intussusception induced by the jejunostomy tube. Surgical exploration confirmed the diagnosis, and bowel resection was performed. This case underscores the importance of considering intussusception as a potential cause of postoperative bowel obstruction in patients with feeding jejunostomy and highlights the crucial role of early imaging and timely surgical intervention in preventing ischemic complications.

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