The long-term effects of juvenile intestinal failure (IF) on neurodevelopment have not been well investigated. The goal of this study was to assess cognitive and motor impairment and identify risk factors for poor outcomes in children with IF. At the Helsinki University Children’s Hospital, we conducted a cross-sectional single-center research. Patients with IF who were dependent on parental nourishment (PN) for more than 60 days, aged 3 to 16 years, were asked to enrol. Validated tests were used to assess cognitive and motor abilities. All patients who took part in the research exams were included. Their median age, gestational age, and birth weight were each 7.5 years, 35 weeks, and 2238 grammes. The median duration of PN was 13 months, and 9 patients were still on it. The median intelligence quotient was 78, with 10 patients having an intelligence quotient of less than 70. Significant motor impairment was seen in ten individuals, with lesser problems in the remaining eight. Worse cognitive result was linked to newborn short bowel syndrome, the frequency of general anaesthetic procedures, and the length of hospital stay, whereas adverse motor outcome was linked to preterm.
Clinically severe cognitive and motor deficits are all too prevalent in newborn IF patients. All children with IF should have early neurodevelopmental follow-up.
