The outcomes of fundoplication and gastrostomy in neurologically impaired children in a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Med J. 2019 Aug;40(8):810-814. doi: 10.15537/smj.2019.8.24052.

Abstract

To evaluate the outcomes of fundoplication and gastrostomy (GT) in neurologically impaired (NI) children. Methods: A retrospective review of medical charts was performed on 178 NI children up to the age of 14 years inclusive, who underwent fundoplication and GT between 1999 and 2014. Results: After fundoplication, the incidence-rate (person-month) of all hospital admissions (0.95 versus 0.13; p less than 0.001), gastroesophageal reflux (GER) - related admissions (0.67 versus 0.09; p less than 0.001), and admissions for seizures (0.21 versus 0.01; p less than0.001 were significantly decreased. Furthermore, all emergency department visits (0.94 versus 0.23; p less than 0.001), GER visits (0.61 versus 0.12; p less than 0.001), seizure visits (0.24 versus 0.01: p less than 0.001) were significantly reduced. The mortality rate after fundoplication was 35%.The risk factors for predicting mortality were being male (odds ratio: 2.2, p=0.027) and being a do not resuscitate (DNR) child (odds ratio: 5.2, p less than 0.001). Majority of the children that died within a year after the procedure were DNR. Conclusions: Fundoplication with GT is effective in reducing hospital admissions and emergency department visits from GER and seizures in NI children. Because of high mortality within a year of fundoplication and GT in DNR children, anti-reflux medications with GT might be an alternative.

MeSH terms

  • Cerebral Palsy / complications
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Enteral Nutrition
  • Epilepsy / complications
  • Female
  • Fundoplication / methods*
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux / complications
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux / surgery*
  • Gastrostomy / methods*
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / complications
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Nervous System Diseases / complications*
  • Respiratory Aspiration / prevention & control*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Seizures
  • Tertiary Care Centers