A recent prospective longitudinal cohort study (J Franken et al. JPGN 2020; 70: e41-47) examined the development of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in 50 children  who underwent gastrostomy tube (GT) placement between 2012-2014.

Key findings:

• GER symptoms were present before and after GT placement: in 44% and 40% respectively.

Among the 25 who underwent pre- and post-operative impedance-pH analysis

• there was not a significant change in acid exposure: 6.2% vs. 6.1%
• there was not a significant change in reflux episodes
• Prior to GT placement, 18 of 25 (72%) had pathologic reflux.  Afterwards, 18 of 25 (72%) had pathologic reflux –though this included 4 with new onset reflux and 4 with resolved reflux

My take: This study shows that reflux symptoms and documented reflux are commonplace in children undergoing GT placement.  Based on this limited sample size, it appears that GER does not appreciably change following GT placement.

Related blog posts:

• How Gastrostomy Tube Placement Influences Reflux This blog post reports on a study with 326 patients, 56% who had neurologic impairment and had a median follow-up of 3.5 years
• How to Make a Study Look Favorable for Reflux Surgery Compared to Medical Treatment
• 2018 Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux Clinical Guidelines
• Fundoplication in children with neurologic impairment
• How Many Kids with Reflux have Reflux?
• Esophageal Diseases Special
• pH Probe Testing: Rumors of My Death are Premature
• Better to do a coin toss than an ENT exam to determine reflux

Island Ford, Sandy Springs