Background: Patients undergoing esophagectomy often receive jejunostomy tubes (j-tubes) for nutritional supplementation. We hypothesized that j-tubes are associated with increased postesophagectomy readmissions. Study design: We identified esophagectomies for malignancy with (EWJ) or without (EWOJ) j-tubes using the 2010e2015 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Outcomes include readmission, inpatient mortality, and complications. Outcomes were compared before and after propensity score matching (PSM). Results: Of 22,429 patients undergoing esophagectomy, 16,829 (75.0%) received j-tubes. Patients were similar in age and gender but EWJ were more likely to receive chemotherapy (24.2% vs. 15.1%, p < 0.01). EWJ was associated with decreased 180-day inpatient mortality (HR 0.72 [0.52e0.99]) but not with higher readmissions at 30-(15.2% vs. 14.0%, p ¼ 0.16; HR 0.9 [0.77e1.05]) or 180 days (25.2% vs. 24.3%, p ¼ 0.37; HR 0.94 [0.79e1.10]) or increased complications (p ¼ 0.37). These results were confirmed in the PSM cohort. Conclusion: J-tubes placed in the setting of esophagectomy do not increase inpatient readmissions or mortality.
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