Feeding resistance after parenteral hyperalimentation.

Infants requiring prolonged hyperalimentation for a variety of conditions may experience difficulty in establishing oral feedings. Indeed, active resistance to oral feeding is often observed. We describe an infant who was deprived of normal oral feedings for the first ten months of life. Because subsequent feeding resistance was apparently due to behavioral and developmental factors, we suggest that the approach to such cases should involve particular attention to these areas. The child development literature and our surgical experience with esophageal atresia give supporting evidence.