ANTHROPOMETRIC ASSESSMENT OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS IN YOUNG CHILDREN WITH POST-INTUBATION CICATRICIAL LARYNGEAL STENOSIS: A RETROSPECTIVE DESCRIPTIVE STUDY

Introduction. Post-intubation cicatricial laryngeal stenosis in young children is a clinically significant condition, particularly among patients who have undergone intensive care and prolonged intubation. In Kazakhstan, most children with this condition are treated at the University Medical Center, while data on their nutritional status remain limited. Chronic upper airway obstruction may increase energy expenditure, impair swallowing, and reduce food intake, potentially increasing the risk of undernutrition. This study aimed to evaluate anthropometric indicators of nutritional status in young children with post-intubation cicatricial laryngeal stenosis.

Materials and methods. A single-center retrospective descriptive study was conducted using medical records of 95 children under 5 years of age with post-intubation cicatricial laryngeal stenosis treated at the University Medical Center. Physical development was assessed according to the 2006 WHO Child Growth Standards using anthropometric Z-score indices: weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-for-height. Z-score values below −2 SD were considered indicative of nutritional impairment.

Results. Underweight according to weight-for-age was identified in 27.4 % of children, while linear growth delay according to height-for-age was found in 23.2 % of patients. Signs of acute nutritional impairment according to weight-for-height were recorded in 28.4 % of children. Additional enteral nutrition was administered to 20.0 % of patients. These findings indicate that a substantial proportion of young children with post-intubation cicatricial laryngeal stenosis demonstrate anthropometric signs of both acute and chronic nutritional impairment.

Conclusion. Young children hospitalized with post-intubation cicatricial laryngeal stenosis showed a high frequency of impaired nutritional status, including underweight, wasting, and linear growth delay. The results support the need for routine nutritional screening, early identification of at-risk patients, and further prospective studies evaluating the role of nutritional support in the comprehensive management of children with chronic upper airway obstruction.

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