Congenital gastrointestinal disorders and other surgical diagnoses share many common problems: increased nutritional requirements to prevent catabolism, enhance wound healing, and provide optimal growth; impaired motility and altered intestinal flora leading to feeding intolerance requiring long-term parenteral nutrition; gastroesophageal reflux and poor feeding mechanics requiring tube feedings and support; growth failure; poor barrier function and risk of infection; and other long-term sequelae. Consequently, the surgical "at-risk" infant requires specialized nutritional support to meet their increased requirements to ensure adequate growth and meet the increased demands from critical illness.
Keywords: Breast milk; Dysmotility; Gastroschisis; Growth; Intestinal atresia; Surgery.
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