Factors Associated With Gastrostomy Tube Complications in Infants With Congenital Heart Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) often experience feeding intolerance due to aspiration, inability to tolerate feed volume, or reflux within the first few months of life, requiring a surgically placed gastrostomy tube (GT) for durable enteral access. However, complications such as GT dislodgement, cellulitis, and leakage related to GT use are common. GT-related complications can lead to unscheduled pediatric surgery clinic or emergency room (ER) visits, which can be time consuming for the family and increase overall healthcare costs. We sought to identify factors associated with GT complications within 2 wk after GT surgery and 1-y after discharge home following GT placement in infants with CHD. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database and electronic medical records from a tertiary children's hospital. We identified infants <1 y old underwent CHD surgery followed by GT surgery between September 2013-August 2018. Demographics, pre-operative feeding regimen, comorbidities, and GT-related utilization were measured. Postoperative GT complications (e.g., GT cellulitis, leakage, dislodgement, obstruction, and granulation tissue) within 2 wk after the GT surgery and an unplanned pediatric surgery clinic or ER visit within 1-y after discharge home were captured. Bivariate comparisons and multivariable logistic regression evaluated factors associated with GT complications and unplanned clinic or ER visits. A Kaplan-Meier failure curve examined the timing of ER/clinic visits. RESULTS: Of 152 infants who underwent CHD then GT surgeries, 66% (N = 101) had postoperative GT complications. Overall, 83 unscheduled clinic visits were identified after discharge, with 37% (N = 31) due to concerns about granulation tissue. Of 137 ER visits, 48% (N = 66) were due to accidental GT dislodgement. Infants who were hospitalized for ≥2 wk after GT surgery had more complications than those discharged home within 2 wk of the GT surgery (40.6% versus 15.7%, P = 0.002). Infants receiving oral nutrition before CHD surgery (38.6% versus 60%, P=<0.001) or with single ventricle defects (19.8% versus 37.3%, P = 0.02) had fewer GT complications. After adjusting for type of cardiac anomaly, infants receiving oral nutrition prior to CHD surgery had a decreased likelihood of GT complications (odds ratio OR 0.46; 95% confidence intervals CI:0.23-0.93). A Kaplan-Meier failure curve demonstrated that 50% of the cohort experienced a complication leading to an unscheduled ER/clinic visit within 6 mo after discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Unplanned visits to the ER or pediatric surgery clinic occur frequently for infants with CHD requiring a surgically placed GT. Oral feedings before cardiac surgery associated with fewer GT complications. Prolonged hospitalization associated with more GT complications. Optimizing outpatient care and family education regarding GT maintenance may reduce unscheduled visits for this high-risk, device-dependent infant population.

Factors Impacting Long-Term Gastrostomy Tube Dependence in Infants with Congenital Heart Disease.

BACKGROUND: Infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) often experience oral feeding intolerance requiring gastrostomy (GT). Complications related to GT use are common. The study aim was to identify factors associated with continued GT use at one-year. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed at a tertiary children's hospital using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database and patients' electronic medical record. Infants <1-year with CHD who underwent cardiac and GT surgery between January 2014-October 2019 were identified. Patient demographics, preoperative feeding, clinical variables, and GT use at one-year was evaluated. A separate cohort discharged with a nasogastric tube (NGT) was identified for longitudinal comparisons. RESULTS: Of 137 infants who received a GT, 115 (84%) continued using their GT at one-year. Factors associated with continued GT use included lower median percent of goal oral feeding before GT placement (0% IQR 0-6.5 versus 3.7% IQR 0-31), prolonged hospitalization after GT placement (36% versus 14%, P-value = 0.048), and failure to take oral feeds at discharge (69% versus 27%, P-value <0.001). There was no difference in demographics or clinical comorbidities between groups. Clinic/emergency room visits for GT complications were common (72%). Eight infants discharged with a NGT did not require GT placement. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CHD tolerating minimal oral nutrition before GT placement, prolonged hospitalization after GT, and difficulty with oral feeds at discharge were more likely to use their GT at 1-year. Outpatient NGT feeding is feasible for select infants with CHD. Efforts to optimize care for this complex, device-dependent population are warranted to minimize risks and facilitate family engagement for long-term care.