True or False: Growth can occur in postoperative neonates while the stress response is still active.

True or False: Growth can occur in postoperative neonates while the stress response is still active.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Cannot be determined
• D. Sometimes

Answer: (B)

Growth requires an anabolic environment with adequate energy, protein, and responsive hormonal signaling (like GH/IGF-1). In the postoperative period, the stress response drives catabolic metabolism—cortisol and catecholamines promote proteolysis and gluconeogenesis, inflammatory cytokines induce insulin resistance, and there’s a negative nitrogen balance. This shift prioritizes immediate energy and repair over tissue accretion, so net growth is not occurring while the stress response is active. Once the stress subsides and nutrition/hormonal balance improves, growth can resume.

Growth requires an anabolic environment with adequate energy, protein, and responsive hormonal signaling (like GH/IGF-1). In the postoperative period, the stress response drives catabolic metabolism—cortisol and catecholamines promote proteolysis and gluconeogenesis, inflammatory cytokines induce insulin resistance, and there’s a negative nitrogen balance. This shift prioritizes immediate energy and repair over tissue accretion, so net growth is not occurring while the stress response is active. Once the stress subsides and nutrition/hormonal balance improves, growth can resume.