Jihane Jadi1, Sudipta Hyder2, Nidia P Rodriguez Ormaza2, Emma Twer1, Michael Phillips3, Adesola Akinkuotu3, Trista D Reid1. 1. Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, 6797The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. 2. Gillings School of Public Health, 6797The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. 3. Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, 6797The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Feeding difficulties are common in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The goal of this study was to examine pediatric CP patients undergoing gastrostomy tube (G tube) placement and assess the association between patient characteristics and weight after 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of all pediatric patients with CP who received a G tube placement between April 2014 and December 2017 at a single institution. Bivariate analysis was used to examine association between patient characteristics and the primary outcome of improvement in weight Z score at 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: Of 63 patients who received a G tube, 81% had an increase in Z score at 3 months, 44% at 6 months, and 64% at 12 months. By 12 months, factors associated with a positive Z score change included moderate and severe malnutrition, lack of prior G tube, and fewer comorbidities. The majority (69.8%) of patients experienced complications. Seven (11%) patients died, with only 1 death related to G tube placement. DISCUSSION: The use of G tubes in CP patients resulted in an increase in an improvement in nutritional status for the majority of patients over the course of a year. Although most complications were minor, patients had a high complication rate and frequently visited the emergency department, highlighting the need for standardized education and follow-up among this patient population.
BACKGROUND: Feeding difficulties are common in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The goal of this study was to examine pediatric CPpatients undergoing gastrostomy tube (G tube) placement and assess the association between patient characteristics and weight after 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of all pediatric patients with CP who received a G tube placement between April 2014 and December 2017 at a single institution. Bivariate analysis was used to examine association between patient characteristics and the primary outcome of improvement in weight Z score at 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: Of 63 patients who received a G tube, 81% had an increase in Z score at 3 months, 44% at 6 months, and 64% at 12 months. By 12 months, factors associated with a positive Z score change included moderate and severe malnutrition, lack of prior G tube, and fewer comorbidities. The majority (69.8%) of patients experienced complications. Seven (11%) patientsdied, with only 1 death related to G tube placement. DISCUSSION: The use of G tubes in CPpatients resulted in an increase in an improvement in nutritional status for the majority of patients over the course of a year. Although most complications were minor, patients had a high complication rate and frequently visited the emergency department, highlighting the need for standardized education and follow-up among this patient population.
Entities:
Keywords:
cerebral palsy; complications; gastrostomy tube; weight gain