Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 25, 2025

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Growth failure in infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome in the neonatal intensive care unit
Michael T Favara1, Jessica Smith2, Daniela Friedman2
1Neonatology, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE, USA.
Objective:
To assess if infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) are smaller at birth and have decreased growth parameters between birth and discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Methods:
Retrospective data analysis of term/late-preterm neonates with NAS at a single-center NICU between September 2006 and May 2018. Growth parameters (weight, length, HC) were measured at birth and discharge. Z scores and percentiles were calculated using WHO standard growth curves.
Results:
A total of 864 infants ≥35 weeks were admitted for NAS. At birth, median percentiles were weight 30%, HC 23%, and length 37%; these decreased significantly (p < 0.001) at discharge to 12%, 6.5%, and 13%, respectively. The percentage of infants <3rd percentile increased significantly (p < 0.001) in all growth parameters from birth to discharge.
Conclusion:
Infants with NAS are smaller at birth and have significant growth retardation in all growth parameters at discharge. An ongoing long-term growth follow-up study will discern the impact of growth restriction in NAS infants.
More Related Videos
05:04A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
Published on: September 22, 2023
09:02Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation
Published on: February 15, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
Acute Respiratory Failure-II
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include: