Current Strategies for Early and Late Rehabilitation of Pediatric Patients with Congenital Anomalies of the Digestive Tract.

Abstract

Congenital anomalies of the digestive tract (CADT) represent a diverse group of pathologies that continue to pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in pediatric surgery. Early surgical correction ensures anatomical restoration, yet the postoperative period is often complicated by long-term functional disturbances that require targeted rehabilitation. This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of a comprehensive rehabilitation strategy applied during both early and late postoperative periods in children with congenital digestive tract anomalies. The study included 137 pediatric patients aged from newborn to 15 years who underwent surgery for various forms of CADT at the Republican Scientific Center of Emergency Medical Care (Tashkent, Uzbekistan) between 2014 and 2024. Patients were divided into two groups: the comparison group (n=75) received conventional postoperative care, while the main group (n=62) was treated under an optimized rehabilitation program integrating local and systemic approaches. Statistical analyses were conducted using descriptive and comparative methods, with significance set at p < 0.05.
Implementation of the multidisciplinary rehabilitation protocol led to a marked reduction in both the frequency and severity of early postoperative complications (from 54.7% to 29.0%; p=0.004) and late functional disorders (from 44.0% to 18.5%; p=0.008). Hospitalization time was shortened (from 14.2 ± 0.5 to 11.1 ± 0.4 days; p<0.001), while overall recovery indicators—nutritional status, bowel function, and quality of life—improved significantly compared to standard management. The introduction of an evidence-based, stage-specific rehabilitation system for children with congenital digestive tract anomalies significantly enhances postoperative outcomes and accelerates functional recovery. These findings emphasize the need to integrate structured rehabilitation into standard pediatric surgical care protocols.