To resort to gastrostomy feeding is a difficult decision to take in children with severe disability, the objective being better quality of life.
Objectives: To describe quality of life in children with severe disability and to look for factors which influence this quality of life, in particular gastrostomy.
Method: Descriptive study in 28 patients, aged 1 to 18 years, with severe motor and mental disability, with or without gastrostomy. The studied factors were: health and nutritional status and quality of life. The quality of life was evaluated with QUALIN questionnaire, specifically designed for infants.
Results: This questionnaire was pertinent and well accepted by the family. Quality of life was influenced by capacity of communication (P=0.006), quality of sleeping (P=0.004), digestive problems (P<0.05) and age (P=0.031).
Conclusion: Gastrostomy did not impair quality of life. Its benefit was estimated as high as 8.71/10 in average by parents.