Gastrojejunal tube placement through an established gastrostomy via an endoscopic transgastric approach in a pediatric population

Complication Rates and Variability in Gastrojejunostomy Tube Usage in Infants and Children

BACKGROUND

Gastrojejunostomy tube (GJT) placement is commonly performed for enteral access and post-pyloric feeding in children with gastric feeding intolerance. Prior studies have suggested the risk of surgical complications is elevated in infants compared to older children. We aim to characterize GJT usage in children and investigate the risk factors for postoperative complications through two national databases.

METHODS

We performed a multi-institutional retrospective cohort study on children who underwent GJT placement utilizing two national databases, the Pediatric American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (Ped-NSQIP) and the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS). Analyses were performed within each cohort separately to determine differences in outcomes between infants (<1 year of age) and non-infants (≥1 year of age). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine associations with postoperative complications.

RESULTS

Infants did not have an increased rate of surgical complications compared to non-infants in the Ped-NSQIP cohort (26.9 % vs. 29.0 %, p = 0.84) or PHIS cohort (35.3 % vs. 30.7 %, p = 0.07). There was an increased risk of complications in African American infants (OR 1.93, 95 % CI 1.01-3.67) and non-infants (OR 1.64, 95 % CI 1.27-2.10) and for urgent procedures or emergent procedures in both infants and non-infants (OR 5.42-6.46 and OR 2.12-2.61, respectively). GJT placement and complication rates significantly varied across institutions.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrate substantial but similar overall complication rates of GJT placement between infants and non-infants. These findings suggest age alone should not negate placement of GJTs when indicated for enteral access in children.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3

TYPE OF STUDY

Multi-institutional, retrospective, cohort study.

Jejunal Feeding by Gastrojejunal Tube in Pediatric Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study is to determine whether jejunal nutrition by gastrojejunal tube (GJT) could be a therapeutic option for refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), avoiding further antireflux surgery.

METHODS

A monocentric retrospective study was conducted for all children <18 years who underwent GJT placement to treat GERD. We collected data at the first GJT placement, 5 months after last GJT withdrawal, and at the end of the follow-up (June 2021).

RESULTS

Among 46 GERD patients with 86 GJT, 32 (69.6%) and 30 (65.2%) avoided antireflux surgery 5 and 28 months, respectively, after the definitive GJT removal. Five months after GJT removal, discharge from hospital, transition to gastric nutrition, GERD complications, and treatment were significantly improved. Median age and weight at the first GJT placement were 7 months and 6.8 kg. Patients had digestive comorbidities or complicated GERD in 69.6% and 76.1% patients, respectively. The median duration of jejunal nutrition using GJT was 64.5 days. GJT had to be removed in 63 (75.9%) cases for technical problems.

CONCLUSIONS

Jejunal nutrition by GJT could be an alternative to antireflux surgery avoiding sustainably antireflux surgery in most of complicated GERD patients. The high frequency of mechanical complications raises that these devices should be technically improved.

Weighted Tip Extensions Result in Fewer Gastrojejunostomy Tube Migrations and Increase Tube Lifespan

PURPOSE

To investigate the safety and efficacy of attaching a weighted extension to the distal aspect of prefabricated gastrojejunostomy (GJ) tubes, and to determine whether this alteration reduces the occurrences of tip reflux into the esophagus or stomach.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective 1-way crossover study included 64 GJ tubes in 15 patients placed by multiple operators in the interventional radiology department at a single institution from July 1, 2019, to December 1, 2021. Patients were selected for a weighted tip extension if they required a GJ tube exchange because of the distal tip refluxing into the stomach or esophagus and were aged ≥18 years. These modified GJ tubes were prepared by cutting the distal end of a nasojejunal tube to a length of 10-15 cm and suturing to the distal aspect of the GJ tube.

RESULTS

Of the 64 tubes studied, 37 had a weighted tip extension. The unmodified GJ tubes had a mean lifespan of 34.3 days, which was significantly shorter than the weighted tips (92.8 days; t test P = .001). There was 1 limited adverse event of abdominal pain and spasms that resolved after exchange with a shorter weighted extension.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that for patients who require a GJ tube replacement because of the tip refluxing proximally into the stomach or esophagus, the addition of a 10-15-cm weighted extension to the distal end of the GJ tube is safe and significantly improves the lifespan of the enteric tube.

Routine Elective Gastrojejunostomy Tube Changes Are Associated With Reduced Tube Complications and Radiation Exposure

Gastrojejunostomy tubes (GJTs) can be a long-term solution for patients with intragastric feeding intolerance. Our retrospective study of 101 patients correlates the frequency of routine and urgent GJT changes, as well as complications and radiation exposure. Over a 2.75-year median duration, 60%, 33%, and 28% of patients had >1 episodes of a tube dislodgement/malpositioning, blockage, or leakage, respectively. Aspiration pneumonia hospital admission was required for 23% of patients. Patients with <1 routine tube change/year had more urgent changes/year (3.0) compared to patients with 1-2 (1.2) or >2 (0.8) routine yearly change. These patients required more frequent sedation for tube placement (21% vs 4.7%, P = 0.03) and experienced greater annual radiation exposure (9599 vs 304.5 and 69.1 μGym 2 , P = 0.01 and 0.008, respectively). Overall, aiming for a routine tube change at least every 6-12 months is associated with fewer urgent changes and complications as well as reduced radiation exposure and sedation requirements.

Postpyloric Feeding Access in Infants and Children: A State of the Art Review

Achieving postpyloric feeding access is a clinical challenge faced by the pediatric gastroenterologist in everyday practice. Currently, there is limited literature published on the topic. This article provides a practical summary of the literature on the different methods utilized to achieve postpyloric feeding access including bedside, fluoroscopic, endoscopic and surgical options. Indications and complications of these methods are discussed as well as a general approach to infants and children that require intestinal feeding.

Endoscopic Gastrojejunostomy in Infants and Children

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility of endoscopic gastrojejunal tube (GJT) placement in infants and children.

STUDY DESIGN

All children undergoing endoscopic GJT placement between January 2010 and December 2019 were included in this single-center retrospective study. Difficulties with and failure of GJT placement, complication rates, and device longevity, efficacy, and duration were assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 107 children, median age 10 months (IQR, 5.0-23.0 months) and median weight 6.6 kg (IQR, 5.3-9.5 kg), underwent endoscopic GJT placement using the gastric stoma to introduce the endoscope (one step: n = 36 of 107; 33.6%). Endoscopic placement was successful in 99%. Eight periprocedure complications occurred, including 1 pneumoperitoneum requiring exsufflation, 2 acute pulmonary hypertension episodes leading to death in 1 case, and 5 episodes of bronchospasm. Minor complications were frequent and mostly mechanical (79%), whereas major complications were rare (5.6%): intussusception (n = 4), intestinal perforation (n = 1), and pneumoperitoneum (n = 1). Ten patients died. Of the 97 patients who lived, 85 (87%) were weaned from jejunal feeding at a median of 179 days (IQR, 69-295 days) after initiation. Among them, 30 (35.2%) required fundoplication. Weight for age z-score was significantly higher at weaning.

CONCLUSIONS

GJT placement is feasible in children, even low-weight infants. Complications are frequent but are mostly minor.

The Use of Jejunal Tube Feeding in Children: A Position Paper by the Gastroenterology and Nutrition Committees of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition 2019

OBJECTIVES

Jejunal tube feeding (JTF) is increasingly becoming the standard of care for children in whom gastric tube feeding is insufficient to achieve caloric needs. Given a lack of a systematic approach to the care of JTF in paediatric patients, the aim of this position paper is to provide expert guidance regarding the indications for its use and practical considerations to optimize its utility and safety.

METHODS

A group of members of the Gastroenterology and Nutrition Committees of the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition and of invited experts in the field was formed in September 2016 to produce this clinical guide. Seventeen clinical questions treating indications and contraindications, investigations before placement, techniques of placement, suitable feeds and feeding regimen, weaning from JTF, complications, long-term care, and ethical considerations were addressed.A systematic literature search was performed from 1982 to November 2018 using PubMed, the MEDLINE, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation was applied to evaluate the outcomes.During a consensus meeting, all recommendations were discussed and finalized. In the absence of evidence from randomized controlled trials, recommendations reflect the expert opinion of the authors.

RESULTS

A total of 33 recommendations were voted on using the nominal voting technique.

CONCLUSIONS

JTF is a safe and effective means of enteral feeding when gastric feeding is insufficient to meet caloric needs or is not possible. The decision to place a jejunal tube has to be made by close cooperation of a multidisciplinary team providing active follow-up and care.

Gastrojejunostomy tube complications - A single center experience and systematic review

PURPOSE

Gastrojejunostomy tubes (GJTs) enable enteral nutrition in infants/children with feeding intolerance. However, complications may be increased in small infants. We evaluated our single-institution GJT complication rate and systematically reviewed existing literature.

METHODS

With REB approval, a retrospective single-institution analysis of GJT placements between 2009 and 2015 was performed. For the systematic review, MOOSE guidelines were followed.

RESULTS

At our institution, 48 children underwent 154/159 successful insertions primarily for gastroesophageal reflux (n=27; 55%) and aspiration (n=11; 23%). Median age at first GJT insertion was 2.2years (0.2-18). Thirty-five (73%) had an index insertion when ≤10kg. GJTs caused 2 perforations and 1 death. The systematic review assessed 48 articles representing 2726 procedures. Overall perforation rate was estimated as 2.1% (n=36 studies, 23/1092, 95% CI: 1.0-3.2). Perforation rates in children <10kg versus ≥10kg were estimated as 3.1%/procedure (95% CI: 1.1%-5.0%) and 0.1%/procedure (95% CI: 0%-0.3%), respectively. The relative risk of perforation was 9.4 (95% CI: 2.8-31.3). Overall mortality was estimated as 0.9%/patient (n=39 studies; 95% CI: 0.2-1.6%). Most perforations (19/23; 83%) occurred ≤30days of attempted tube placement.

CONCLUSION

Gastrojejunostomy tubes are associated with significant complications and frequently require revision/replacement. Insertion in patients <10kg is associated with increased perforation risk. Caution is warranted in this subgroup.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II.

Use of Anesthesia for Imaging Studies and Interventional Procedures in Children

Ongoing investigation from the Pediatric Anesthesia NeuroDevelopment Assessment (PANDA) study hopes to examine the long-term effect on cognitive and language development of a single anesthetic exposure in children undergoing inguinal hernia repair. The fifth PANDA Symposium, held in April 2016, continued the mission of previous symposia to examine evidence from basic science and clinical studies on potential neurotoxic effects of anesthetics on developing brain. At the 2016 Symposium, a panel of specialists from nonsurgical pediatric disciplines including anesthesiology, radiology, neurology, gastroenterology, oncology, cardiology, and critical care reviewed use of anesthesia in their practices, including how concern over possible neurodevelopmental effects of early childhood anesthetic exposure has changed discussion with patients and families regarding risks and benefits of imaging studies and interventional procedures involving sedation or anesthesia. This paper summarizes presentations from nonsurgical pediatric specialists at the 2016 PANDA Symposium.