Nutrition in paediatric surgical patients

Abstract

Infancy and childhood are metabolically demanding periods of life that require adequate nutrition to enable growth, development, and activity. These demands are elevated during periods of illness and physiological stress, for example in the postoperative period, whilst various surgical pathologies can impede adequate enteral nutrition. In this article, we provide an overview of current practice in paediatric surgical nutrition and the practicalities of supplementing or replacing oral feeding by different routes.