Growth, Health, and Development After Neonatal Gut Surgery: A Long-term Follow-up.

Growth and development data on 19 children who survived gut surgery in the immediate newborn period are presented. The follow-up period ranges from seven months to seven years six months, with a mean of three years eight months, Neonates who undergo go resection are at a higher risk for delay in height and weight gain compared to those who have gut surgery without resection. Six of the 12 children who had gut resection showed delay in height gain and seven showed delay in weight gain. Of the seven children who had gut surgery but no resection, only one showed delay in height and weight gain after the age 1 year. An individual approach and careful serial follow-ups are recommended for all children undergoing gut resect in the he newborn period. Of the eight children who had psychometric testing in the gut-resected group, only two are normal. Three of the four older children in this group show sign of perceptnomotor defects, suggesting the need for subtesting such children at about 6 years of age so that remedial help, if necessary, may be provided when formal schooling begins. Pediatrics 61:685-693. 1978, neonatal gut surgery, growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]