Growth of children with isolated Robin sequence treated by nasopharyngeal intubation: importance of a hypercaloric diet.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the growth curves (weight and length) of two groups of infants with isolated Robin sequence (RS) treated with nasopharyngeal intubation (NPI), one group receiving a hypercaloric diet and the other receiving a normal diet for age, and compare the growth rates and duration of NPI between the two groups.

DESIGN

Prospective longitudinal study.

SETTING

Hospital de Reabilitação de Anomalias Craniofaciais, Universidade de São Paulo, Bauru, Brazil, 1998 to 2000.

PATIENTS

Twenty-three children with isolated RS treated by prolonged NPI.

INTERVENTIONS

Nine children received a milk formula supplemented with 5% to 7% glucose polymers and 3% to 5% medium chain triglycerides (group 1), and 14 children received a milk formula only (group 2). Weight and length were measured at birth and every month up to 6 months of life for the construction of weight and length growth curves. The time of use of the nasogastric tube, age at the beginning of NPI, and duration of NPI were also determined.

RESULTS

No significant difference in length was observed between the two groups. The mean weight curves obtained for the two groups were below the 50th percentile of the National Center for Health Statistics, but weight gain was higher in group 1. The duration of NPI was shorter in this group.

CONCLUSIONS

The hypercaloric diet led to an improvement in nutritional status, which in turn contributed to improved respiratory conditions in isolated RS.