Objective: To evaluate the quality of life (QoL) in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) insertion consisting of health-related problems and family satisfaction.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study using a questionnaire survey was conducted. Parents of all patients performed PEG at QSNICH between 2012 and 2019 participated in the questionnaire survey. Data gathering included demographic data, health-related QoL of patients, and family satisfaction.

Results: One hundred nine cases were performed PEG at QSNICH and 60 cases had follow-ups. Of the 39 cases that completed the questionnaire, twenty cases or 51.3% were male. The median age was 103 months with a range of 30 to 178 months. Underweight, stunting, and wasting were found at 46.2%, 38.5%, and 25.6%, respectively. The most common cause of neurodevelopmental disability was spastic cerebral palsy (CP) in 32 cases (82.1%). There was no significant improvement in nutritional status after PEG insertion for six months and three years. The frequency of hospitalization caused by aspiration pneumonia in times per year, decreased significantly, at a median of 1 versus 0.5, p<0.001. Additionally, 84.6% of the families reported that respiratory tract infection was decreased, and family satisfaction was 94.9%.

Conclusion: PEG insertion decreased the number of hospitalization and improved health-related problems and QoL in pediatric neurodevelopmental patients.

Keywords: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy; Quality of life; Neurodevelopmental

DOI: 10.35755/jmedassocthai.2023.01.13746

Received 8 August 2022 | Revised 5 October 2022 | Accepted 20 October 2022