title: The Role of Medication in Spontaneous Gastrocutaneous Fistula Closure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Factors precipitating persistence of gastrocutaneous fistulas (GCFs) are not clearly understood. The role of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or histamine receptor antagonists in GCF closure is not yet studied. We aimed to identify whether these medications influence spontaneous GCF closure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review was performed on children who underwent gastrostomy tube insertion and removal from January 2010 to February 2013. Spontaneous GCF closure rates and medication use during gastrostomy tube removal were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 97 patients included, 48 had spontaneous GCF closure, whereas 49 required operative closure. When comparing these two groups, no significant difference existed in spontaneous GCF closure rates among patients who were on ranitidine, PPIs, or both (p = 0.09, p = 0.83, p = 0.06 respectively). Spontaneous closure occurred more in older patients (2.7 ± 4.1 vs. 0.9 ± 1.6 years, p < 0.01) and in patients without fundoplication at time of tube insertion (12.5 vs. 30.6%, p = 0.05). There were more laparoscopic placements in the group that closed spontaneously (83 vs. 61%, p = 0.02). Mean gastrostomy tube presence was longer in patients who required surgery than those with spontaneous closures (18.7 ± 10.3 vs. 35.5 ± 36.6 months, p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ranitidine or PPI use upon removal of gastrostomy tubes does not seem to facilitate spontaneous GCF closure in children.
authors: Department of Surgery, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, United States.
authors: Priscilla G
authors: PG
authors: Thomas
authors: Department of Surgery, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, United States.
authors: Nicole E
authors: NE
authors: Sharp
authors: Department of Surgery, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, United States.
authors: Katherine
authors: K
authors: Schnell
authors: Department of Surgery, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, United States.
authors: Charles L
authors: CL
authors: Snyder
authors: Department of Surgery, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, United States.
authors: Shawn D
authors: SD
authors: St Peter
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005747:Gastric Fistula / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D011899:Ranitidine