TY - JOUR T1 - Enterostomy-related complications and growth following reversal in infants JF - Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition JO - Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed SP - F230 LP - F234 DO - 10.1136/archdischild-2016-311126 VL - 102 IS - 3 AU - George Bethell AU - Simon Kenny AU - Harriet Corbett Y1 - 2017/05/01 UR - http://fn.bmj.com/content/102/3/F230.abstract N2 - Background Infant enterostomies are used to manage various neonatal surgical conditions where it is not suitable or safe to form a primary anastomosis. Complications are common and there is no consensus regarding optimal timing of enterostomy reversal. Stoma reversal is thought to allow patients to thrive; however, this has not been demonstrated robustly.Aim The study aimed to identify risk factors for enterostomy-related complications and to determine the relationship between enterostomy complications, enterostomy reversal and weight gain in infants with enterostomies.Methods A retrospective case note review of 58 infants who underwent enterostomy formation and reversal during a 6-year period was undertaken; demographic data, diagnosis, enterostomy complications and serial weights were noted. Standardised growth charts were used to calculate z scores.Results Enterostomy complications were documented in 24 infants (41%). Infants of low birth weight and low gestational birth age were significantly more likely to have an enterostomy-related complication (1110 vs 2125 g, 28.5 vs 35 weeks, respectively); they were more likely to have longer inpatient stays and remain dependent on parenteral nutrition prior to closure (median 92.5 vs 52 days, 40% vs 16%, respectively). Irrespective of diagnosis, gestation and presence of an enterostomy complication, the mean z score prior to enterostomy closure was −0.747 vs +0.892 following closure.Conclusions Around 40% of infants with an enterostomy will have an enterostomy-related complication. Whatever their weight, gestation or underlying pathology, most infants thrive after enterostomy closure and this should be considered when planning the optimal timing for this procedure. ER -