A multicenter registry study on percutaneous electrical nerve field stimulation for pediatric disorders of gut-brain...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Neuromodulation
• Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI)

Background:

• Pediatric abdominal pain-related disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) are common and challenging to treat.
• Single-center trials suggested percutaneous electrical nerve field stimulation (PENFS) as a potential therapy for pediatric DGBI.
• A need exists to evaluate PENFS efficacy in a broader, multicenter setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the efficacy of PENFS as a standard therapy for pediatric DGBI.
• To assess the impact of PENFS on gastrointestinal symptoms and functional disability in a multicenter registry.
• To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of PENFS in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, prospective, open-label registry involving 292 children (8-18 years) with DGBI across seven tertiary care centers.
• Patients were classified by Rome IV criteria, and subtypes included functional dyspepsia.
• Abdominal Pain Index (API), Nausea Severity Scale (NSS), and Functional Disability Inventory (FDI) were administered pre-therapy and at follow-up visits up to 1 year.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in child-reported API scores were observed within 3 weeks (p < 0.001) and persisted at 3 months (p < 0.001).
• Nausea Severity Scale (NSS) scores improved significantly and were sustained at 3 and 6 months (p < 0.001).
• Functional Disability Inventory (FDI) scores showed reductions at 3 months (p = 0.01), with parent-reported scores aligning with child reports.

Conclusions:

• This large, multicenter registry demonstrates the efficacy of PENFS in improving gastrointestinal symptoms and functionality for pediatric DGBI.
• PENFS represents a valuable therapeutic option for children suffering from DGBI.
• The findings support the broader implementation of PENFS in pediatric gastroenterology practice.