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A descriptive study of complications of gastrostomy tubes in children

Elizabeth Goldberg1, Sharon Barton, Melissa S Xanthopoulos

  • 1Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA.

Journal of Pediatric Nursing
|February 27, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Children with gastrostomy tubes frequently experience complications like infections and granulation tissue. These issues, often occurring early, impact care and family well-being, highlighting the need for better management strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Surgical Complications
  • Medical Device Management

Background:

  • Gastrostomy tubes are essential for nutritional support in children.
  • Complications associated with gastrostomy tubes can significantly impact patient care and family burden.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the incidence and types of complications in pediatric patients with gastrostomy tubes.
  • To identify common issues such as infections and granulation tissue formation.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study design over a 4-year period.
  • Data collection included demographics, infections, granulation tissue, and major complications.
  • Analysis of complications in children with gastrostomy tubes.

Main Results:

  • Infections occurred in 37% of patients, often within 15 days of placement.
  • Granulation tissue affected 68% of patients, with 17% experiencing recurrence.
  • Major complications were reported in 4% of the pediatric cohort.

Conclusions:

  • Infection and granulation tissue are frequent complications in pediatric gastrostomy tube use.
  • These complications likely increase stress and care burden for families.
  • Enhanced care strategies are necessary to mitigate gastrostomy tube complications.
Abstract

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