Feeding Tube (after fundoplication)

My child suffers from chronic reflux and takes Prevacid. After over two years with medication, doctors want to do the Nissen, which is fine with me, but they also want to put a feeding tube. Main reason is so that he grows and thrives. He doesn’t eat much, mostly PediaSure, but he is overall healthy. Tiny, but healthy.

G-tubes are a good idea after a fundoplication. Children sometimes can’t or don’t eat well after surgery and it will help. They are also be used for supplemental nutrition. You are never going to make your child big; our aim is not to make him fat, but good nutrition (adequate weight or height) does allow children to fight infections better, heal better, and have overall better health. G-tubes are also very easy to take out again—sometimes without a trip to the Operating Room. I usually have kids keep their G-tubes until they haven’t used them for at least 2-3 months.

CP/TK 7-13-10