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Prevalence and risk factors of feeding difficulties in children with delayed reconstruction of esophageal atresia : a Swedish nationwide study

Örnö Ax, Sofie ; Öst, Elin ; Engstrand Lilja, Helene ; Omling, Erik LU orcid ; Gatzinsky, Vladimir ; Svensson, Jan F. ; Kassa, Ann Marie ; Jönsson, Linus ; Tollne, Anna Maria and Stenström, Pernilla LU orcid , et al. (2025) In Pediatric Surgery International 41(1).
Abstract

Purpose: Children with delayed reconstruction of esophageal atresia (DREA) have a high risk of morbidity. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of feeding difficulties in children with DREA, differences to children with primary anastomosis (PA) and identify risk factors for feeding difficulties in children with DREA. Methods: Parents of 30 children with DREA, born 2001–2018, were recruited nationwide in Sweden and answered an author-developed screening survey about feeding difficulties. Outcomes were statistically compared to 105 children with PA, who were hypothesized to be more mildly affected Relative risk factors for feeding difficulties were investigated using negative binominal regression. Clinical data was... (More)

Purpose: Children with delayed reconstruction of esophageal atresia (DREA) have a high risk of morbidity. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of feeding difficulties in children with DREA, differences to children with primary anastomosis (PA) and identify risk factors for feeding difficulties in children with DREA. Methods: Parents of 30 children with DREA, born 2001–2018, were recruited nationwide in Sweden and answered an author-developed screening survey about feeding difficulties. Outcomes were statistically compared to 105 children with PA, who were hypothesized to be more mildly affected Relative risk factors for feeding difficulties were investigated using negative binominal regression. Clinical data was retrieved from medical records. Level of significance p < 0.05. Results: A majority of children with DREA (83%) had feeding difficulties, most commonly “longer mealtimes than peers” (73%) and “cough/choking during meals” (72%). Food infusion pump use (p = 0.043), need to avoid specific foods (p = 0.049) and need to eat with extra support by an adult (p < 0.0001) were more frequent than in PA. The relative risk of feeding difficulties increased with younger child age (p = 0.016), number of associated anomalies (p = 0.04) number of respiratory (p = 0.002) and digestive symptoms (p = 0.005). Conclusion: Feeding difficulties in children with DREA are prevalent, underlining the need for multidisciplinary and targeted care early in life.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Esophageal atresia, Feeding, Morbidity, Surgical outcomes
in
Pediatric Surgery International
volume
41
issue
1
article number
164
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:105007838788
  • pmid:40498126
ISSN
0179-0358
DOI
10.1007/s00383-025-06052-4
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
773328bf-14e9-444c-ab06-8bb41761d0dc
date added to LUP
2025-10-22 14:35:04
date last changed
2025-11-19 16:41:35
@article{773328bf-14e9-444c-ab06-8bb41761d0dc,
  abstract     = {{<p>Purpose: Children with delayed reconstruction of esophageal atresia (DREA) have a high risk of morbidity. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of feeding difficulties in children with DREA, differences to children with primary anastomosis (PA) and identify risk factors for feeding difficulties in children with DREA. Methods: Parents of 30 children with DREA, born 2001–2018, were recruited nationwide in Sweden and answered an author-developed screening survey about feeding difficulties. Outcomes were statistically compared to 105 children with PA, who were hypothesized to be more mildly affected Relative risk factors for feeding difficulties were investigated using negative binominal regression. Clinical data was retrieved from medical records. Level of significance p &lt; 0.05. Results: A majority of children with DREA (83%) had feeding difficulties, most commonly “longer mealtimes than peers” (73%) and “cough/choking during meals” (72%). Food infusion pump use (p = 0.043), need to avoid specific foods (p = 0.049) and need to eat with extra support by an adult (p &lt; 0.0001) were more frequent than in PA. The relative risk of feeding difficulties increased with younger child age (p = 0.016), number of associated anomalies (p = 0.04) number of respiratory (p = 0.002) and digestive symptoms (p = 0.005). Conclusion: Feeding difficulties in children with DREA are prevalent, underlining the need for multidisciplinary and targeted care early in life.</p>}},
  author       = {{Örnö Ax, Sofie and Öst, Elin and Engstrand Lilja, Helene and Omling, Erik and Gatzinsky, Vladimir and Svensson, Jan F. and Kassa, Ann Marie and Jönsson, Linus and Tollne, Anna Maria and Stenström, Pernilla and Abrahamsson, Kate and Dellenmark-Blom, Michaela}},
  issn         = {{0179-0358}},
  keywords     = {{Esophageal atresia; Feeding; Morbidity; Surgical outcomes}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Pediatric Surgery International}},
  title        = {{Prevalence and risk factors of feeding difficulties in children with delayed reconstruction of esophageal atresia : a Swedish nationwide study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00383-025-06052-4}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00383-025-06052-4}},
  volume       = {{41}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}