STUDY ON GROWTH AND NEURODEVELOPMENT IN ABOVE THREE YEAR OLD CHILDREN WITH HISTORY OF CONGENITAL ESOPHAGEAL ATRESIA OR DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA

Esophageal atresia (EA) is a congenital malformation first described by Durston
in 1670 and occurs in 1/2500 births. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is an anatomic anomaly
which causes herniation of the abdominal organs into the chest due to incomplete closure of
pleuroperitoneal membrane. We preformed this research due to lack of a comprehensive study on
growth and neurodevelopment of children with history of congenital esophageal atresia or
diaphragmatic hernia.
Materials & Methods: This study was conducted on 60 children who underwent surgery for EA (30
patients) or CDH (30 patients) in Tabriz children hospital. Neurological development evaluated with
ASQ scoring system and patients’ score in every field recorded and reported according to the national
health ministry cut points. Children’s growth was reported according to weight, height, head
circumference and BMI.
Results: Evaluating patients with EA after 3 years, 17 cases (56.6%) had normal BMI, 9 cases (30%)
had BMI less than 5% percentile and 4 cases had BMI above 95% percentile for age. Evaluating their
neurological development, four children had abnormal results. Evaluating patients with CDH after 3
years, 16 cases (53%) had normal BMI, 8 cases (26%) had BMI under 5% percentile and 6 (20%)
cases had BMI above 95% percentile for age. Also in evaluating neurological development, three
children had abnormal results.
Conclusion: Overall patients with CDH and EA need intensive care in development, hearing, growth
and feeding. Articles mention some of these children with hearing or speech problems had normal
neonatal test. More prospective studies are necessary to be conducted.