Background/Objectives: Paediatric intestinal pseudo-obstruction (PIPO) is a disorder of gut motility in childhood, frequently leading to intestinal failure (IF). Consensus on optimum nutrition management (oral, enteral, intravenous feeding exclusively or in combination) is lacking. Our aim was to investigate the current approach to the nutrition support of children (<18 years) with PIPO managed in Gastroenterology centres in the United Kingdom (UK) and long-term mode of feeding. Methods: An electronic questionnaire was sent to the members of the British Society of paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (BSPGHAN). The data collected (October–November 2023) included patient demographics, disease phenotype, age at symptom onset and mode/type of feeding. Results: A total of 36 patients fulfilled criteria for PIPO; 22/36 (61.1%) patients were female, and 25/36 (69.4%) were white British. A total of 15/36 (41.6%) became symptomatic during the neonatal period and 23/36 (63.8%) within the first year of life. A total of 5/36 (13.9%) was eating a normal solid diet: 2/36 (5.5%) of these never required artificial feeding, 2/36 (5.5%) were started on a normal diet after short-term parenteral nutrition (PN) in the first year of life, and 1/36 (2.8%) re-established oral eating after 10 years of total PN following small bowel transplantation. A total of 31/36 (86.1%) required permanent artificial feeding (enteral and/or parenteral) after an average time of symptoms of 14 months. A total of 2/36 (5.5%) was exclusively on enteral nutrition (EN), and 4/36 (11.1%) was on total PN. A total of 25/36 (69.4%) received a combination of PN and oral diet (normal, or bite and dissolve, or normal but minimal intake) and/or EN. Conclusions: The results show that how and with what children with PIPO are fed in the UK varies widely. Larger studies are needed to make evidence-based recommendations on the best nutrition approach.
Mari et al. (Fri,) studied this question.