Long-term outcomes of children undergoing video-assisted gastrostomy.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to assess the short- and long-term complication rates after video-assisted gastrostomy (VAG), the effects of age and gender on long-term complications and the effect of duration of gastrostomy tube retention on the need for gastroraphy when the gastrostomy device was removed.


METHODS
This was a retrospective study of children undergoing VAG at a single institution. Children who died or moved from the area were excluded. The rates of short- and long-term complications developing at 3-6 months or 2 or more years, respectively, were compared.


RESULTS
A total of 170 children were studied, out of a cohort of 303 children. The median age at surgery was 2 years. The median duration of postoperative long-term follow-up was 5 years (2-9 years). The complications at the respective short and long-term follow-ups were as follows: granulation tissue, leakage, infection and vomiting. There were no differences in the short- versus long-term complication rates for gender and age. Children needing gastroraphy had used a gastrostomy device significantly longer compared with children with spontaneous closure.


CONCLUSIONS
Complications after VAG decrease over time. A longer duration of gastrostomy device retention leads to increased need for gastroraphy.
Skåne University Hospital and Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Martin
M
Salö
Skåne University Hospital and Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Ana
A
Santimano
Skåne University Hospital and Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Sofia
S
Helmroth
Skåne University Hospital and Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Pernilla
P
Stenström
Skåne University Hospital and Lund University, Lund, Sweden. einar.arnbjornsson@telia.com.
Einar Ólafur
EÓ
Arnbjornsson
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery / Q000379:methods*
Children; Gastroraphy; Gastrostomy; Laparoscopy; Long term; Outcome