Aim: We thought of assessing the prevalence and predictors of feeding disorders in patients with congenital heart defects after neonatal cardiac surgery. Methods: Retrospective study of 82 consecutive neonates (48 males, 34 females) who underwent surgery for congenital heart defects from 1999 to 2002. Information was taken from patient charts and nursing notes. The presence of a feeding disorder was assessed by a questionnaire sent to the paediatricians when the child was 2 years of age. A feeding disorder was defined as a need for tube feeding, inadequate food intake for age, or failure to thrive. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: Feeding disorders occurred in 22% of the study population. Reoperation and early feeding disorders were identified as independent risk factors for later feeding disorders (odds ratio 5.8, p 0.01; odds ratio 20.7, p 0.02). There was a trend towards more feeding disorders in patients with neurological abnormalities during the first hospital stay. Conclusion: Feeding disorder is a frequent, long-term sequela after neonatal cardiac surgery. Patients with congenital heart defects who undergo multiple cardiac surgeries and those with early feeding disorders are at risk of developing later feeding disorders. Patients with these risk factors need to be selected for preventive strategies. is a complex condition involving different symptoms, such as food refusal and faddiness, and leading to a decreased food intake. 1 It often results from abnormal feeding development. A child's feeding development is determined by its constitution, the environment, and the child's learning process. 2 Pathology in one or more of these components can lead to a feeding disorder. Factors of constitutional origin can be organic diseases, such as the malformation of organs directly related to food intake or transport, or diseases of other organ systems that disturb the child's feeding and digestion process by impacting on its general health. 3 Disorders of the central nervous system can also contribute to the development of feeding problems. 4 The child's environment is defined by the parents' behaviour and the family's cultural and social background. Any imbalance between parental expectations and the child's feeding progress could cause an interaction problem, generating feeding disorders, such as food refusal, avoidance or aversion, on the part of the child. Parents with psychological disorders, or uncertainty regarding feeding style in families from other cultures, and also poverty and poor education can be contributory factors to feeding disorders. In most patients with feeding disorders, it is typically a combination of different factors that gives rise to the disorder. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Although some children start with a purely organic problem, that is, constitutional, many