Fecal microbiota transplantation through transendoscopic enteral tubing for inflammatory bowel disease: High acceptance and high satisfaction

Background and Aim: Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been shown to positively affect the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the safety and efficacy of FMT may depend on the route of microbiota delivery. This study investigates the acceptance, satisfaction, and selection preference of a new delivery route, transendoscopic enteral tubing (TET), for treating IBD. Methods: A survey was conducted among patients with IBD from five medical centers across China. The objective was to assess their acceptance, subjective feelings, and major concerns regarding two types of TET: colonic TETand mid-gut TET. In addition, the survey also analyzed the factors affecting the selection of TETand TET types among these patients. Results: The final analysis included 351 questionnaires. Up to 76.6% of patients were willing to accept TET and preferred to choose colonic TET when they first learned about TET. Patients with longer disease duration, history of enema therapy, or enteral nutrition were more open to considering TETamong IBD patients. After treatment, 95.6% of patients were satisfied with TET, including colonic TET (95.9%) and mid-gut TET (95.1%). Patients with a history of enema therapy and ulcerative colitis preferred colonic TET. In contrast, those with a history of enteral nutrition and Crohn's disease were willing to choose mid-gut TET. However, some patients hesitated to accept TET due to concerns about efficacy, safety, and cost. Conclusions: TET was highly accepted and satisfied patients with IBD. Disease type and combination therapy influenced the choice of colonic or mid-gut TET.