title: Gastrostomy placement in paediatric patients with neuromuscular disorders: indications and outcome.
abstract: Studies of children with neurodevelopmental disorders have shown that receiving nutrition through a gastrostomy can improve clinical outcomes and quality of life. However, there is little information on gastrostomy and its effect in patients with neuromuscular disorders. A retrospective casenote review of all patients with a gastrostomy, followed-up at the Hammersmith Hospital, London, was undertaken to assess the indications for, and outcomes of, gastrostomy placement. Notes for 32 patients (17 males, 15 females) were reviewed (age range 32mo-31y; median age 12y 5mo). We found three main groups of diagnoses: congenital muscular dystrophy (n=15), structural congenital myopathies (n=11), and other neuromuscular disorders (n=6). Two main patterns of feeding problems were identified before gastrostomy: swallowing difficulties, and nutrition and growth problems. The follow-up period after gastrostomy was from 12 months to 19 years (mean 5y). Weight faltering was reversed in 17 out of 22 patients, and height faltering in 9 out of 14, where data were available. Twenty-six patients had a reduced frequency of chest infections. No significant complication of gastrostomy placement was documented. Twenty-eight patients or their families were happy with the results of the gastrostomy. Gastrostomy seems to have a substantial positive impact in patients with neuromuscular disease and feeding difficulties.
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Unit, Department of Paediatrics and Neonatal Medicine, Imperial College, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Gian Paolo
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Ramelli
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aloysius
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Trak
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muntoni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D019959:Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005774:Gastrostomy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome