Implementing an early feeding pathway post gastrostomy insertion reduces inpatient stay
Topic overview
Retrospective study of 116 pediatric gastrostomy patients demonstrated that an early feeding protocol (starting 2 hours post-procedure) reduced hospital stay by 5 hours compared to traditional surgeon-preference approaches, without increasing complication rates. The pathway safely advances feeds to full volume within 8 hours.
Key takeaways
- Early feeding (starting 2 hours post-op) after pediatric gastrostomy insertion safely reduces hospital stay by 5 hours vs traditional approach
- Structured pathway (50% feed at 2h, 100% at 5h and 8h) shows no increase in immediate or 30-day complication rates compared to standard care
- Standardized early feeding protocols can replace surgeon preference-based approaches without compromising patient safety
- Median postoperative LOS decreased from 33 to 28 hours with early feeding pathway implementation (p<0.003)
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