Small Bowel Endoscopic Enteral Access

The use of small bowel access for small intestinal delivery of enteral nutrition is becoming more common. Patients at risk for gastric regurgitation and aspiration, gastric intolerance, and pancreatitis are some of the classic patient groups for which small bowel feedings may be necessary. The endoscopist should have command of all forms of endoscopic small bowel enteral access, including nasojejunal tube placement, percutaneous gastro/jejunostomy, and direct percutaneous jejunostomy. Knowledge of not only the procedure techniques, but also the potential complications, is imperative to achieving good clinical outcomes.