Outcomes after enterostomies in children with and without motility disorders: A description and comparison of postoperative complications

Major stoma complications in pediatric patients in a tertiary hospital in a low-middle-income country: a retrospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Intestinal stomas are one of the most common parts of pediatric surgical care, and complications arising from it have significant impact on overall patient outcomes. However, data on major complications in low-middle-income countries remain limited. This pilot retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the prevalence, types, and management of major stoma complications in pediatric patients at a tertiary government hospital in the Philippines.

METHODS

Medical records of pediatric patients with major stoma complications classified as Clavien-Dindo III-V from June 2018 to June 2023 were reviewed. Patient-related factors (age, sex, diagnosis) and surgery-related factors (stoma type and location, surgeon expertise) were analyzed. Descriptive statistics characterized demographic profiles, while Chi-square and t tests analyzed categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression evaluated independent associations with major stoma complications.

RESULTS

Out of 1041 pediatric patients with stomas, 102 cases had major complications, representing a prevalence rate of 9.8%. Mortality directly attributed to stoma complications accounted for 1.3% of the total cases, or 14 deaths in 5 years. Neonates comprised a significant portion, primarily diagnosed with congenital conditions like anorectal malformation and Hirschsprung's disease. Ileostomies exhibited a higher incidence of major complications compared to other stoma types. Stomal prolapse and adhesive bowel obstruction are the most common reported stoma complications requiring surgical intervention while stoma revision is the most frequent corrective procedure. The median time from stoma creation to presentation of major complication was 14 months, with nearly half of the complications occurring within the first year. Only the presence of ileostomy had significant association with the development of major complications among the risk factors analyzed.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides useful insights into stoma complications in pediatric patients in a low-middle income country. Despite the lack of significant associations between the patient-related and surgeon-related factors, and major stoma complications, further investigation into other contributing factors is warranted. Improvements in data collection methods and prospective studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to enhance understanding and optimize care of major stoma complications. Addressing the challenges identified in this study could lead to a comprehensive and tailored approach to pediatric stoma care and their complications.

Pediatric to adult transition care in neurogastroenterology and motility: A position paper from the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society and European Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility

Transition services-programs that support adolescents and young adults (AYAs) as they move from a child-centered to a more autonomous, adult-orientated healthcare system-have been associated with improved short- and long-term healthcare outcomes. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of evidence exploring transition services within the neurogastroenterology and motility (NGM) field. The overall aim of this article, endorsed by the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society and European Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, is to promote a discussion about the role of transition services for patients with NGM disorders. The AYAs addressed herein are those who have: (a) a ROME positive disorder of gut-brain interaction (DGBI), (b) a primary or secondary motility disorder (including those with motility disorders that have been surgically managed), or (c) an artificial feeding requirement (parenteral or enteral tube feeding) to manage malnutrition secondary to categories (a) or (b). The issues explored in this position paper include the specific physical and psychological healthcare needs of patients with NGM disorders; key healthcare professionals who should form part of a secondary care NGM transition service; the triadic relationship between healthcare professionals, caregivers, and patients; approaches to selecting patients who may benefit most from transition care; methods to assess transition readiness; and strategies with which to facilitate transfer of care between healthcare professionals. Key areas for future research are also addressed, including the construction of NGM-specific transition readiness questionnaires, tools to assess post-transfer healthcare outcomes, and educational programs to train healthcare professionals about transition care in NGM.

Nutritional management of high-output ileostomies in paediatric patients is vital and more evidence-based guidelines are needed

AIM

Paediatric patients with high-output ileostomies (HOI) face an elevated risk of complications. This study aimed to comprehensively review the existing literature and offer nutritional management recommendations for paediatric patients with an HOI.

METHODS

PubMed and Embase were searched for relevant English or French language papers up to 31 June 2022. The emphasis was placed on studies involving paediatric ileostomy patients, but insights were obtained from adult literature and other intestinal failure pathologies when these were lacking.

RESULTS

We identified 16 papers that addressed nutritional issues in paediatric ileostomy patients. Currently, no evidence supports a safe paediatric HOI threshold exceeding 20 mL/kg/day on two consecutive days. Paediatric HOI patients were at risk of dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, micronutrient deficiencies and growth failure. The primary dietary choice for neonates is bolus feeding with breastmilk. In older children, an enteral fluid restriction should be installed favouring isotonic or slightly hypotonic glucose-electrolyte solutions. A diet that is high in calories, complex carbohydrates and proteins, low in insoluble fibre and simple carbohydrates, and moderate in fat is recommended.

CONCLUSION

Adequate nutritional management is crucial to prevent complications in children with an HOI. Further research is needed to establish more evidence-based guidelines.

Gastrointestinal Ostomies in Children: A Primer for the Pediatrician

Despite the advancement of medical therapies in the care of the preterm neonate, in the management of short bowel syndrome and the control of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease, the need to create fecal ostomies remains a common, advantageous treatment option for many medically complex children.

Preoperative management comprising tube irrigation using a trans-anal indwelling tube for infants with hirschsprung disease can allow single-stage radical surgery

BACKGROUND

Preoperative management of Hirschsprung's disease (HD) is currently being conducted with the goal of performing single-stage radical surgery without ileostomy.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed HD cases between 2013 and 2022, as well as their outcomes related to preoperative management.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine patients with HD were included in this study, including short-segment HD (30 cases), long-segment HD (4 cases), and total colonic aganglionosis (5 cases). Among these 39 patients, 95% (37 of 39 patients) underwent single-stage radical surgery after management with glycerin enema use (n = 13), irrigation with tube insertion each time irrigation was performed (n = 13), and irrigation using a tube placed in the bowel (n = 11).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative management of patients with HD allowed for single-stage surgery of long-segment HD and total colonic aganglionosis. Cases that could be managed without performing an emergency enterostomy during the neonatal period were managed with irrigation until radical surgery was performed.

Definition, Documentation, and Classification of Complications in Pediatric Surgical Literature-A Plea for Standardization

Severity grading systems for complications in surgical patients have been used since 1992. An increasing assessment of these instruments in pediatric surgery is also noticed, without their validation in children. To analyze the current practice, we performed a literature review with focus on the assessment and grading of complications. The review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies reporting on postoperative complications as a primary or secondary endpoint using a severity grading system were included. Definition for simple adverse events, classification systems used, and the time horizon of postoperative documentation were analyzed. A total of 566 articles were screened, of which 36 met the inclusion criteria. About 86.1% of the papers were retrospective and 13.9% prospective analyses. None of the studies were prospective-randomized trials. Twenty (55.6%) studies did not include a definition of adverse events, whereas the remaining 16 (44.4%) showed variations in their definitions. All studies applied the Clavien-Dindo classification, whereas five (13.9%) additionally used the Comprehensive Complication Index. One study compared alternative grading instruments with the Clavien-Dindo classification, without demonstrating the superiority of any classification in pediatric surgery. Twenty-two studies (61.1%) did not report the time horizon of perioperative complication documentation, while 8 studies (22.2%) used 30 days and 6 studies (16.7%) used 3 months of postoperative documentation. Definition and classification of postoperative complications are inconsistent in the pediatric surgical literature. Establishment of a standardized protocol is mandatory to accurately compare outcome data.