Single-Incision Open versus Laparoscopic Gastrostomy in Infants: A Comparative Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Techniques

Background:

• Gastrostomy tubes are crucial for enteral feeding in infants.
• Single-incision open gastrostomy offers a less invasive approach.
• Its superiority compared to laparoscopic gastrostomy remains under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the safety and efficacy of single-incision open gastrostomy versus laparoscopic gastrostomy in infants.
• To evaluate operative time and post-operative complications between the two techniques.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of pediatric patients (≤12 months) requiring enteral feeding between 2006-2019.
• Group 1: 42 patients with single-incision open gastrostomy.
• Group 2: 45 patients with laparoscopic gastrostomy.

Main Results:

• Single-incision open gastrostomy had a significantly shorter operative time (23 min vs. 40 min; P < 0.001).
• No significant differences were observed in post-operative complications such as tube leakage, wound issues, infection, or pneumonia.
• Patients in the open group were younger (median 2 months vs. 5 months; P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Both single-incision open and laparoscopic gastrostomy are effective and safe for infants.
• The open technique, with minimal anesthesia and shorter procedure time, is a non-inferior alternative to laparoscopy.
• Single-incision open gastrostomy should be considered for small infants requiring feeding tubes.