Background: Early institution of enteral feeding in paediatric end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is recommended. For patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) there is concern that gastrostomy tube (GT) insertion may be complicated by increased peritonitis, in particular fungal. Our unit favours early planned GT insertion, and for those with late presentation, there is prompt consideration of GT insertion following dialysis initiation. This study evaluates our rates of peritonitis with GT insertion following or concurrent with PD initiation.
Methods: This was a retrospective, single-centre, cross-sectional study of of 17 New Zealand children with ESKD who received PD in the period 2000-2011. Inclusion criteria were GT placement while on PD or initiation of PD within 72 h of GT insertion.
Results: There were no cases of fungal peritonitis among the 17 children; however, two cases of early peritonitis with organisms derived from the gastrointestinal tract were identified. No statistically significant difference was found between incident rates of bacterial peritonitis before GT placement (0.6 episodes per patient-year; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.26-1.18) and post-GT placement (1.21 episodes per patient-year; 95% CI 0.69-1.97).
Conclusion: Fungal peritonitis has never been encountered by out unit during its many years of experience in GT placement in patients without advanced malnutrition. When children on PD have insufficient dietary intake to maintain appropriate growth velocity, enteral feeding should be initiated promptly. A GT is considered to be safe for long-term use in selected patients.