long term clinical outcome of small intestinal atresia in children, a single center experiences

background: prognosis of small intestine artesia, the most common agents causing intestinal obstruction in neonates, has improved in last decades. some variable such as weight change, type of feeding, post operation oral feeding starting time, and adequacy of energy and protein intake can change patients clinical outcomes. we performed a retrospective study to evaluate all neonates with small intestinal artesia who were admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (picu), during 2002-2010 and followed-up their clinical outcomes over an 8-year period. materials and methods : we reviewed medical records of all patients with small intestinal atresia treated at dr. sheikh hospital in the between 2002 and 2010. information of all patients were recorded, including demographic data, type and  location of atresia, other problem or anomalies, being term or preterm, term of stay and length of hospitalization, weight change, type of feeding, post operation oral feeding starting time, and  adequacy of energy and protein intake. results: 65 neonates presented with small intestinal atresia treated at dr. sheikh hospital during 2002-2010 entered our study. the age of neonates at admission time was median 3 days (1 day – 2 month). the median weight at reception was 2.32 0.6 kg (ranged 0.75-3.85 kg). the median of hospitalization period was 15 days. the mean amount of delivered calorie- protein and energy intake was significantly lower than the guidelines of the american society for parenteral and enteral nutrition (p<0.001). conclusion : we recommend full investigation of congenital anomalies and possible prevention of infections and its resultant sepsis in all infants with intestinal atresia, in order to reduce the risk of mortality in these infants.