The Long Term Efficacy of Gastrostomy Feeding in Children with Cystic Fibrosis on Anthropometric Markers of Nutritonal Status and Pulmonary Function

The clinical outcomes from 14 children (7 male) with cystic fibrosis (CF) who had a gastrostomy tube inserted between January 1999 and August 2005 are presented. The mean age of gastrostomy insertion was 6.63 years. All patients had pancreatic insufficiency with mildly compromised lung function (mean FEV1 71%). Data was collected for 1 year prior and 2 years post commencement of gastrostomy feeding. Subjects experienced a significant decline in both weight and height for the 12 months prior to enteral feeding. There was a significant improvement in some anthropometric parameters but not respiratory function in the first 12 months of feeding which then plateau during the second year. These results also highlight the benefit of using height and weight Z scores rather than the measuring of the BMI as an indicator of nutritional change in children with CF.