Presenter Status
Fellow
Abstract Type
Clinical Research
Primary Mentor or Principal Investigator
Lindsay Groh, PhD
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
14-5-2026 12:30 PM
End Date
14-5-2026 12:45 PM
Abstract Text
Introduction: Intestinal failure (IF) is the need for total parenteral nutrition (TPN; nutrition through an IV) for longer than 60 days due to intestinal disease, surgical intervention, or dysfunction. Children with IF are at increased risk for developmental and mental/behavioral health concerns, due to anesthesia and prolonged hospitalizations during sensitive developmental periods, interruptions to the brain-gut axis, and exposure to medical trauma. However, psychosocial research on this population is limited and the prevalence of developmental and mental/behavioral health conditions in children with IF is unknown. We sought to assess the prevalence of developmental, mental, and behavioral health concerns in children with IF across the pediatric age span.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients seen in a large, midwestern children’s hospital from 2010 to 2025, aged 0-18 years, who received TPN (excluding reasons for TPN that are not due to IF) using TriNetX reporting software, which stores demographic, diagnostic codes, and billing codes from patient’s medical records. We identified a cohort of TPN patients, then pulled records of diagnostic codes pertaining to mental/behavioral health (anxiety, depression, behavior disorders) and developmental disorders (ASD, ADHD, speech/motor delay, intellectual disability, global developmental delay).
Results: We identified 1,480 TPN patients. Of these, 71% had at least one developmental disorder and 20% had at least one mental/behavioral health disorder, with a subset having multiple diagnoses. The most common diagnoses were global developmental delay (22%), speech delays (22%), and anxiety disorders (19%).
Conclusions: Most patients had at least one known developmental delay and/or mental/behavioral health condition. Large prospective cohort studies are needed to confirm these findings. In the interim, embedding psychological consultation into intestinal rehabilitation programs is recommended to allow for universal screening and access to indicated services to support positive developmental trajectories for this high-risk population.
Uncovering Neurodevelopmental Risk in a Pediatric Intestinal Failure Population
Introduction: Intestinal failure (IF) is the need for total parenteral nutrition (TPN; nutrition through an IV) for longer than 60 days due to intestinal disease, surgical intervention, or dysfunction. Children with IF are at increased risk for developmental and mental/behavioral health concerns, due to anesthesia and prolonged hospitalizations during sensitive developmental periods, interruptions to the brain-gut axis, and exposure to medical trauma. However, psychosocial research on this population is limited and the prevalence of developmental and mental/behavioral health conditions in children with IF is unknown. We sought to assess the prevalence of developmental, mental, and behavioral health concerns in children with IF across the pediatric age span.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients seen in a large, midwestern children’s hospital from 2010 to 2025, aged 0-18 years, who received TPN (excluding reasons for TPN that are not due to IF) using TriNetX reporting software, which stores demographic, diagnostic codes, and billing codes from patient’s medical records. We identified a cohort of TPN patients, then pulled records of diagnostic codes pertaining to mental/behavioral health (anxiety, depression, behavior disorders) and developmental disorders (ASD, ADHD, speech/motor delay, intellectual disability, global developmental delay).
Results: We identified 1,480 TPN patients. Of these, 71% had at least one developmental disorder and 20% had at least one mental/behavioral health disorder, with a subset having multiple diagnoses. The most common diagnoses were global developmental delay (22%), speech delays (22%), and anxiety disorders (19%).
Conclusions: Most patients had at least one known developmental delay and/or mental/behavioral health condition. Large prospective cohort studies are needed to confirm these findings. In the interim, embedding psychological consultation into intestinal rehabilitation programs is recommended to allow for universal screening and access to indicated services to support positive developmental trajectories for this high-risk population.
