Comparing Different Techniques in Children With or Without a Simultaneous Fundoplication: Does the Gastrostomy Technique Matter?

Purpose: To evaluate the results of different gastrostomy techniques and the impact of simultaneous fundoplication. Materials and Methods: The patients who underwent a gastrostomy procedure between 2009 and 2019 in a single tertiary center were evaluated retrospectively. The patients are divided into groups depending on the gastrostomy techniques as open gastrostomy (OG), laparoscopic gastrostomy (LG), percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), and laparoscopy-assisted PEG (LAPEG). Preoperative characteristics and postoperative outcomes are compared among the groups. Results: Two hundred forty-four patients (75, 60, 91, and 18 patients in OG, LG, PEG, and LAPEG groups, respectively) are enrolled in the study. Although rates of minor or major complications did not demonstrate a significant difference among the groups, no major complications were encountered in the LAPEG group, while the lowest minor complications were observed in the PEG group (P > .05). Length of postoperative initiation of enteral feeding and length of hospital stay (LOS) were highest in the OG group (P = .000). Performing a concurrent fundoplication procedure significantly delayed the initiation of enteral feeding and increased the LOS in all of the groups (P < .005). Conclusions: Although PEG is a safe and reproducible technique of gastrostomy in selected patients, LAPEG may expand the boundaries of PEG by reducing the major complication rates. Although simultaneous fundoplication may complicate the perioperative period, it does not have significance on outcomes.