Postoperative surveillance and detection of postprandial hypoglycemia after fundoplasty in children

To evaluate the prevalence of postprandial hypoglycemia (PPH) after fundoplasty after the initiation of a universal postoperative glucose surveillance plan in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

This was a retrospective chart review of children (newborn to 18 years) who underwent fundoplasty at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia during the 2-year-period after the launch of a surveillance protocol in the NICU and other units. The rate of screening, frequency of PPH (postprandial blood glucose <60 mg/dL [3.3 mmol/L] on 2 occasions), frequency of postprandial hyperglycemia preceding PPH, timing of PPH presentation, and related symptoms were evaluated.

A total of 285 children were included (n = 64 in the NICU; n = 221 in other units). Of the children screened in all units, 24.0% showed evidence of PPH, compared with 1.3% of unscreened children. Hyperglycemia preceded PPH in 67.7% (21/31) of all screened children. Within the NICU, most children had PPH within 1 week, but only 53.3% exhibited symptoms of dumping syndrome.

This study supports the use of universal postoperative blood glucose surveillance in identifying PPH in children after fundoplasty. Earlier identification of PPH would lead to earlier treatment and minimize the effects of unidentified hypoglycemic events.