Ascaris exit through the feeding jejunostomy tract: a rare case report

• Published in: The Turkish journal of gastroenterology Vol. 22; no. 2; pp. 203 - 204
• Main Authors: Wani, Mohd Lateef, Rather, Ajaz Ahmad, Irshad, Ifat, Hakeem, Zubair Ashraf, Bijli, Akram Hussain, Khan, Tahir Saleem, Lone, Reyaz Ahmad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Turkey 01-04-2011
• Subjects: Aged; Animals; Ascariasis - complications; Ascaris lumbricoides - physiology; Enteral Nutrition; Esophageal Neoplasms - diet therapy; Esophageal Neoplasms - surgery; Gastrectomy; Humans; Jejunostomy; Male; Motor Activity
• ISSN: 1300-4948; 2148-5607
• DOI: 10.4318/tjg.2011.0193

A 65-year-old male was operated for esophageal carcinoma. Transhiatal esophagogastrectomy with jejunostomy feeding tube was done. Orals were started on the 12th postoperative day. The jejunostomy feeding tube was removed on the 20th postoperative day. Immediately after removal of the feeding tube, a 10-12 cm ascaris was seen emerging through the jejunostomy tract. Ascaris lumbricoides can cause a variety of complications like intestinal obstruction, perforation, biliary obstruction, pancreatitis, liver abscess, cholangiohepatitis, volvulus, and gangrene, etc. Although the above-mentioned complications have been frequently reported, ascaris exit through the feeding jejunostomy tract is very rare. This case is reported here to emphasize the importance of this complication of wandering ascariasis.