The aim of this prospective cohort study was to evaluate the impact of gastrostomy tube feeding on the quality of life of carers of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Short-Form 36 version II was used to measure quality of life in carers of 57 Caucasian children with CP (28 females, 29 males; median age 4y 4mo, range 5mo to 17y 3mo) six and 12 months after insertion of a gastrostomy tube. Responses were calibrated against a normative dataset (Oxford Healthy Life Survey III). Six months after gastrostomy feeding was started, a substantial rise in mean domain scores for mental health, role limitations due to emotional problems, physical functioning, social functioning, and energy/vitality were observed. At 12 months after gastrostomy placement, carers reported significant improvements in social functioning, mental health, energy/vitality (mean increase >9.8 points; p<0.03), and in general health perception (mean increase 6.35 points; p=0.045) compared with results at baseline. Moreover, the values obtained for these domains at 12 months were not significantly different from the normal reference standard. Carers reported a significant reduction in feeding times, increased ease of drug administration, and reduced concern about their child's nutritional status. This study has demonstrated a significant, measurable improvement in the quality of life of carers after insertion of a gastrostomy feeding tube.

This study provides no evidence for an increase in respiratory morbidity following insertion of a feeding gastrostomy in children with cerebral palsy.

We report a longitudinal, prospective, multicentre cohort study designed to measure the outcomes of gastrostomy tube feeding in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Fifty‐seven children with CP (28 females, 29 males; median age 4y 4mo, range 5mo to 17y 3mo) were assessed before gastrostomy placement, and at 6 and 12 months afterwards. Three‐quarters of the children enrolled (43 of 57) had spastic quadriplegia; other diagnoses included mixed CP (6 of 57), hemiplegia (3 of 57), undiagnosed severe neurological impairment (3 of 57), ataxia (1 of 57), and extrapyramidal disorder (1 of 57). Only 7 of 57 (12%) could sit independently, and only 3 of 57 (5%) could walk unaided. Outcome measures included growth/anthropometry, nutritional intake, general health, and complications of gastrostomy feeding. At baseline, half of the children were more than 3SD below the average weight for their age and sex when compared with the standards for typically‐developing children. Weight increased substantially over the study period; the median weight z score increased from ‐3 before gastrostomy placement to ‐2.2 at 6 months and ‐1.6 at 12 months. Almost all parents reported a significant improvement in their child's health after this intervention and a significant reduction in time spent feeding. Statistically significant and clinically important increases in weight gain and subcutaneous fat deposition were noted. Serious complications were rare, with no evidence of an increase in respiratory complications.

No abstract

The aim of this study was to quantify the incidence of complications following inguinal herniotomy in small babies weighing 5 kg or less. This was a retrospective review of inguinal herniotomies performed in our unit between December 1997 and March 2002 on babies weighing 5 kg or less. A total of 154 patients underwent hernia repair, of which 125 patients (221 hernias) were available for review (81%). The median weight at surgery was 3.6 kg (range 1.7-5 kg) and 84 patients (67%) were classified as premature (< 36 weeks gestation). Thirty-three patients presented with an irreducible hernia, in whom all but one were successfully reduced prior to surgery. Patients were reassessed at a clinic following surgery and follow-up data was obtained from the clinic notes after a median follow-up of 3 months (range 1-60 months). Five cases of hernia recurrence occurred in four patients (2.3%) and the incidence of testicular atrophy was 2.7% (six patients). In the testicular atrophy group, four of the six patients presented with an incarcerated hernia and of these, three were noted to have evidence of ischaemia at operation. There were six cases of high testes requiring subsequent orchidopexy (2.7%). Although neonatal inguinal herniotomy is a technically demanding procedure, this series has demonstrated a low complication rate. Testicular atrophy was associated with a history of preoperative incarceration in the majority of cases.