Impact of Scoliosis Severity on Gastrostomy-Related Complications in Children

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the relationship between scoliosis and risk of developing complications in patients who underwent gastrostomy. Methods: Patients who underwent percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) or surgical gastrostomy (SG) between 2012 and 2022 were included. Leakage, discharge, granuloma, and hyperemia were considered minor complications, while visceral injury, ileus, and re-do surgery were considered major complications. The degree of scoliosis was calculated using the Cobb angle. The SG and PEG groups were compared by evaluating the complications and their correlation with scoliosis. Results: A total of 104 patients with a mean age of 5.0 ± 5.3 were included; 58% of patients were treated with SG. Patients in the SG group were younger (P < 0.001). Minor complications were significantly more common in the PEG group (P = 0.018). There was no difference between the groups in terms of major complications (P = 1.000). Scoliosis was observed in 32.7% of the patients (n = 34). In the SG group, no correlation was found between the Cobb angle and the frequency of minor (P = 0.173) or major complications (P = 0.305). There was no significant difference between the Cobb angles of patients with and without minor complications in the PEG group (P = 0.478); the Cobb angles of patients with major complications (75°) were significantly higher than those without (36°) (P = 0.030). Conclusion: Gastrostomy is important for weight gain and nutritional needs of children. This study showed that the risk of complications in SGs did not correlate with the degree of scoliosis and that the risk of major complications in PEGs increased in patients with a high degree of scoliosis.