Closure after gastrostomy button.

A gastrostomy device is removed from the gastrostoma when no longer needed. The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis of whether it is possible for the surgeon to decide which stoma has to be closed with a gastroraphy and which to leave for a spontaneous closure within a reasonable period of time. Out of a cohort of 321 patients, who had been operated with a video-assisted gastrostomy, we included all the 48 patients having had their gastrostomy button removed. These patients were carefully followed and the closure of the gastrostoma was registered. According to the institutional routine we waited at least 3 months after the removal of the gastrostomy device before suggesting to the child's guardians an operative closure of the stoma. In 26 patients the stoma closed within 3 months, whereas in 22 patients a surgical gastroraphy was performed. We found no differences between the two groups regarding the patients' diagnoses, the duration of the gastrostoma use or patient's age at the time of removal of the gastrostomy device. This study rejected the hypothesis of predictability of the gastrostoma closure. Thus, we recommend a routine expectance after the removal of a gastrostomy device for at least 1 month. If no spontaneous closure occurs, then a gastroraphy should be performed.