Definition

1. Noun:
   • A surgical procedure to create an opening: A jejunostomy is a surgical operation that creates an opening between the jejunum (the middle part of the small intestine) and the anterior abdominal wall. This opening allows for direct access to the jejunum, typically to enable artificial feeding when a patient cannot consume food or nutrients by mouth.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The patient underwent a jejunostomy to facilitate long-term enteral nutrition.
  • After the surgery, nutrients were delivered directly through the jejunostomy tube.

Advanced Usage

• "to have a jejunostomy performed": to undergo this specific surgical procedure.
  • Due to the obstruction, the medical team decided to have a jejunostomy performed.

Variants and Related Words

• Jejunostomy tube (J-tube) (n): The specific feeding tube placed through the surgically created opening.

  • The nurse checked the placement of the jejunostomy tube before starting the feeding.

• Jejunal (adj): Pertaining to the jejunum.

  • The formula is designed for jejunal feeding.

Synonyms

• Surgical feeding access: A general term for surgically created openings for nutrition.
• Enterostomy: A broader term for any surgical opening into the intestine, which includes jejunostomy.

Related Phrases

• Percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (PEJ): A specific, less invasive technique for creating a jejunostomy using an endoscope.
  • The gastroenterologist recommended a percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy.

Notes on Meaning

This term is highly specific to the medical field. Its primary and only common meaning refers to this surgical procedure for feeding access. It is not used in idiomatic or figurative language.

Noun

1. surgical creation of an opening between the jejunum and the anterior abdominal wall; will allow artificial feeding