Objective  To study effect of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or jejunostomy(PEG/J) and Supportan in prevention of stress injury in elderly patients with digestive tract tumors.

  Methods  A total of 104 elderly patients aged 60 years or older, with time of fasting or bedridden ≥5 days, assessed as stress injury risk and malnutriton by Waterlow and Nutritional Risk Screening(NRS2002) were selected. According to a retrospective cohort study, the patients were divided into control group, immune nutrition group and normal nutrition group. The incidences of stress injury, hemoglobin (Hb), serum albumin (ALB), prealbumin (PA), body mass index (BMI), C reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-2 (IL-2), total lymphocyte count (TLC), nature killer (NK) cells, the ratios of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ were compared.

  Results  After 20 d of treatment, there were significnat differences in incidences of stress injury, Hb, ALB, PA, BMI, CRP, IL-2, TLC, NK cells, CD3⁺, CD4⁺, and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ between the control group and immune nutrition group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). However, ALB, PA, BMI, CRP, CD4⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ were statistically significant in normal nutrition group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

  Conclusion  After being given Supportan through PEG/J to elderly digestive tract tumors patients with risks of stress injury and malnutriton, the nutritional status and immune function will be improved, inflammation reactions and incidences of stress injury will be reduced.