The COL4A1 (collagen Type 4 alpha1) pathogenic variant is associated with porencephaly and schizencephaly and accounts for approximately 20% of these patients. This gene variant leads to systemic microvasculopathy, which manifests as brain, ocular, renal, and muscular disorders. However, only a few patients with surgical interventions have been reported and the potential surgical risks are unknown. Here, we present the cases of two female patients between 7 and 8 years of age who were diagnosed with the COL4A1 variant and underwent laparoscopy-assisted percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (LAPEG) for oral dysphagia. Their primary brain lesions were caused by porencephaly and paralysis, which are caused by multiple cerebral hemorrhages and infarctions, and both patients had refractory epileptic complications. Although LAPEG was successfully performed in both patients without any intraoperative complications, one patient developed alveolar hemorrhage postoperatively and required mechanical ventilation. Thus, careful perioperative management of patients with the COL4A1 variant is important.
Keywords: COL4A1; porencephaly; schizencephaly.
© 2023 Asia Endosurgery Task Force and Japan Society of Endoscopic Surgery and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.