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Final Program


Final Program

1122 - Feeding Outcomes in Pediatric Rehabilitation

Thursday, February 27, 2025
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM MST

    Presenting Author(s)

  • LM

    Lea Mason, n/a

    Medical Student
    University of Connecticut School of Medicine
    Farmington, Connecticut, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • JW

    Jennifer Wu, MD, PhD

    Physician Investigator
    Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
    Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Objectives: To determine the effect that method of supplemental enteral feeding (PO, gastrostomy tube (GT), and nasogastric tube (NGT)) has on overall rehabilitation outcomes through analysis of rehabilitation outcomes and efficiency.

Design: This retrospective study includes 531 patients admitted to the pediatric inpatient unit from an urban rehabilitation hospital from January 1, 2019 to July 20, 2023. Hospitalization records were retrospectively reviewed for pertinent clinical data including feeding status (PO, GT, NGT etc.), age, gender, and length of stay. Functional rehabilitation status upon admission and discharge was assessed using the Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM).

Results:

Patients with GTs had significantly higher cognitive and total WeeFIM scores on discharge than those with NGTs (p=0.0098) and most other data suggests a trend in this direction, particularly upon discharge, however lacking significant p values on analysis. All patients of PO status had significantly higher WeeFIM scores in all categories upon admission and discharge.

Conclusions: Pediatric patients admitted to inpatient rehabilitation units may require enteral feeding to provide nutrition due to their condition and the nature of these methods may impact rehabilitation gains and functionality. This study suggests that G tubes upon discharge may provide better cognition and total functional gains, and may suggest trends in improvement in self-care and mobility as well. These findings are important to influence clinical practice and decision making to allow children to return to a functional level upon discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.