A 12-month prospective study of gastrostomy feeding in children with severe neurological disabilities
Ed Juszczak and Nicola Alder with Peter Sullivan (Oxford), Adrian Thomas (Manchester), and Muftah Eltumi (Watford)
Many neurologically disabled children have inadequate oral intake. Gastrostomy-tube (G-tube) feeding is frequently used to provide nutrition but there have been few prospective studies to evaluate this intervention. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of G-tube feeding on the growth and nutritional status of disabled children, and investigate improvements in the quality of life in carers.
Fifty-seven children with cerebral palsy (CP) (28 girls, 29 boys; median age 4.3 years, range 0.4-17. years) were studied before and 6 and 12 months after G-tube insertion. At each visit participants underwent anthropometry, dietetic evaluation, and a range of biochemical and endocrinological tests. The child’s general health over the previous six months was determined during a structured interview conducted with the primary caregiver. The quality of life of each primary caregiver was assessed using the Short-Form 36 Version II.
Publications: 38, 112, 178
