Necrosis intestinal, una complicación infrecuente de la nutrición enteral por yeyunostomía / Mesenteric necrosis, a rare complication of feeding jejunostomy

RESUMEN La nutrición enteral es parte importante del soporte vital avanzado en el paciente crítico, y ha demostrado ser más fisiológica, económica y con resultados superiores a la nutrición parenteral. La yeyunostomía para alimentación enteral está indicada cuando no es posible la alimentación por vía oral y está contraindicada la utilización de una sonda nasogástrica o nasoyeyunal de alimentación. Es una vía de alimentación con escasa morbilidad, aunque no está exenta de complicaciones, y algunas de ellas pueden ser graves. Comunicamos un caso de necrosis intestinal vinculado a la alimentación enteral por yeyunostomía en un paciente sometido a una gastrectomía oncológica.

ABSTRACT Enteral nutrition is an important component of advanced life support in the critically ill patient, and has demonstrated to be more physiologic, cheaper and with better results than parenteral nutrition. Jejunostomy for enteral nutrition is indicated when the oral route is impossible and the use of a nasogastric or nasojejunal feeding tube is contraindicated. Although the rate of complications associated with enteral nutrition through jejunostomy is low, they may occur and be serious. We report a case of bowel necrosis associated with a jejunostomy performed for enteral nutrition in a patient who underwent oncologic gastrectomy.

A Case of Henoch-Schonlein Purpura with Suspicious Focal Bowel Necrosis in an Adult

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is a vasculitis of the small vessels of the skin, joints, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys characterized by immunoglobulin A deposits in the involved organs. HSP is typified by the classic tetrad of purpura, arthralgia, abdominal pain, and renal involvement. It is common in childhood, but may also occur in adults and can be accompanied by severe complications. Gastrointestinal symptoms occur in up to 85% of patients, and gastrointestinal involvement can manifest as severe problems including intussusception, obstruction, and perforation. The disease course is often self-limited, but severe manifestations occasionally require surgical intervention. We report the case of a 24-year-old man with HSP who presented with abdominal pain and vomiting. Computerized tomography revealed thickening of the ileal wall and multifocal disrupted prominent mucosal enhancement. These findings suggested hemorrhagic enteritis and mucosal necrosis. After treatment with high dose corticosteroids, the lesion improved and surgical intervention was avoided. Our experience suggests that corticosteroid therapy may help in controlling HSP with suspicious small bowel necrosis.