Open AccessEvaluation of Complications and Weight Outcomes in Pediatric Cerebral Palsy Patients With Gastrostomy Tubes
Author(s) -
Jihane Jadi,
Sudipta Hyder,
Nidia P. Rodriguez Ormaza,
Emma Twer,
Michael Phillips,
Adesola C. Akinkuotu,
Trista Reid
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the american surgeon/american surgeon
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.331
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1555-9823
pISSN - 0003-1348
DOI - 10.1177/00031348211034753
Subject(s) - medicine , cerebral palsy , gastrostomy , complication , malnutrition , pediatrics , surgery , retrospective cohort study , feeding tube , physical therapy
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.