Gastrostomy Tube Feeding in Indian Children with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease

Guidelines recommend initiating supplemental enteral feeding through a nasogastric (NG) or gastrostomy tube (G-tube) in patients with chronic kidney disease who have inadequate oral intake despite repeated nutritional counseling. While G-tube placement is shown to improve both nutritional status and anthropometric indices of children with CKD in developed regions, information from developing countries is lacking. This retrospective report reviewed the impact of G-tube feeding on nutritional intakes and anthropometric parameters over a 1-y follow-up in 5 children with CKD-5D managed at one tertiary care center in India. Gastrostomy feeding facilitated significant increments in caloric and protein intake and was easy and safe. However, G-tube feeding led to additional expenses, and the changes in growth parameters were variable in the short term. A longer follow-up appears necessary to understand its impact on wasting, growth velocity, and stature.

Automated summary

This retrospective report reviewed the impact of G-tube feeding on nutritional intakes and anthropometric parameters in 5 children with CKD-5D managed at a tertiary care center in India. The results showed that G-tube feeding facilitated significant increments in caloric and protein intake, and it was easy and safe. However, additional expenses were incurred, and the changes in growth parameters were variable in the short term, requiring longer follow-up to understand its impact.