Risk Factors for Adverse Outcomes in Term Infants with CHD and Definitive Necrotising Enterocolitis.

OBJECTIVES: To define the incidence of definitive necrotising enterocolitis in term infants with CHD and identify risk factors for morbidity/mortality. METHODS: We performed a 20-year (2000-2020) single-institution retrospective cohort study of term infants with CHD admitted to the Boston Children's Hospital cardiac ICU with necrotising enterocolitis (Bell's stage ≥ II). The primary outcome was a composite of in-hospital mortality and post-necrotising enterocolitis morbidity (need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, multisystem organ failure based on the paediatric sequential organ failure assessment score, and/or need for acute gastrointestinal intervention). Predictors included patient characteristics, cardiac diagnosis/interventions, feeding regimen, and severity measures. RESULTS: Of 3933 term infants with CHD, 2.1% (n = 82) developed necrotising enterocolitis, with 67% diagnosed post-cardiac intervention. Thirty (37%) met criteria for the primary outcome. In-hospital mortality occurred in 14 infants (17%), of which nine (11%) deaths were attributable to necrotising enterocolitis. Independent predictors of the primary outcome included moderate to severe systolic ventricular dysfunction (odds ratio 13.4,confidence intervals 1.13-159) and central line infections pre-necrotising enterocolitis diagnosis (odds ratio 17.7, confidence intervals 3.21-97.0) and mechanical ventilation post-necrotising enterocolitis diagnosis (odds ratio 13.5, confidence intervals 3.34-54.4). Single ventricle, ductal dependency, and feeding related factors were not independently associated with the primary outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of necrotising enterocolitis was 2.1% in term infants with CHD. Adverse outcomes occurred in greater than 30% of patients. Presence of systolic dysfunction and central line infections prior to diagnosis and need for mechanical ventilation after diagnosis of necrotising enterocolitis can inform risk triage and prognostic counseling for families.

Arch watch: current approaches and opportunities for improvement.

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a ductus arteriosus (DA)-dependent form of congenital heart disease (CHD) characterized by narrowing in the region of the aortic isthmus. CoA is a challenging diagnosis to make prenatally and is the critical cardiac lesion most likely to go undetected on the pulse oximetry-based newborn critical CHD screen. When undetected CoA causes obstruction to blood flow, life-threatening cardiovascular collapse may result, with a high burden of morbidity and mortality. Hemodynamic monitoring practices during DA closure (known as an "arch watch") vary across institutions and existing tools are often insensitive to developing arch obstruction. Novel measures of tissue oxygenation and oxygen deprivation may improve sensitivity and specificity for identifying evolving hemodynamic compromise in the newborn with CoA. We explore the benefits and limitations of existing and new tools to monitor the physiological changes of the aorta as the DA closes in infants at risk of CoA.

Cardiovascular intensive care unit variables inform need for feeding tube utilization in infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Feeding strategies in infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) following stage 1 palliation (S1P) include feeding tube utilization (FTU). Timely identification of infants who will fail oral feeding could mitigate morbidity in this vulnerable population. We aimed to develop a novel clinical risk prediction score for FTU. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of infants with HLHS admitted to the Boston Children's Hospital cardiovascular intensive care unit for S1P from 2009 to 2019. Infants discharged with feeding tubes were compared with those on full oral feeds. Variables from early (birth to surgery), mid (postsurgery to cardiovascular intensive care unit transfer), and late (inpatient transfer to discharge) hospitalization were analyzed in univariate and multivariable models. RESULTS: Of 180 infants, 66 (36.7%) discharged with a feeding tube. In univariate analyses, presence of a genetic disorder (early variable, odds ratio, 3.25; P = .014) and nearly all mid and late variables were associated with FTU. In the mid multivariable model, abnormal head imaging, ventilation duration, and vocal cord dysfunction were independent predictors of FTU (c-statistic 0.87). Addition of late variables minimally improved the model (c-statistic 0.91). A risk score (the HV2 score) for FTU was developed based on the mid multivariable model with high specificity (93%). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal head imaging, duration of ventilation, and presence of vocal cord dysfunction were associated with FTU in infants with HLHS following S1P. The predictive HV2 risk score supports routine perioperative head imaging and vocal cord evaluation. Future application of the HV2 score may improve nutritional morbidity and hospital length of stay in this population.

Enteral feeding algorithm for infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome poststage I palliation.

BACKGROUND: Infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) experience a high incidence of growth failure in the postoperative period following stage I palliation. Because of an increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis in this population, clinicians may be reluctant to initiate early enteral feedings. Published guidelines for initiating and advancing enteral feedings in this population are limited. OBJECTIVE: To test the safety and efficacy of an enteral feeding algorithm in infants with HLHS following stage I palliation. DESIGN: Single-center, prospective case series with historical comparisons. SETTING: Pediatric cardiovascular intensive care unit in tertiary care children's hospital. PATIENTS: The study group consisted of consecutive patients > or =35 wks gestational age and weight > or =2 kg admitted to our cardiac intensive care unit over an 18-month period following stage I palliation of HLHS (n = 36). Excluded were nonsurvivors, patients supported on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or those with a history of NEC or fetal intervention. These data were compared with a similar cohort of patients admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit over an 18-month period before the implementation of the feeding algorithm (n = 27). INTERVENTION: A feeding algorithm was implemented in the study group in the postoperative period for initiation and advancement of enteral nutrition. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The median duration of total parenteral nutrition was significantly higher in the control group (116 vs. 51 hrs; p = 0.03) compared with the study group. The median time to achieve recommended daily allowance of calories defined as 108 kcal/kg per day was significantly reduced in the study group (9 vs. 13 days; p = 0.01). Despite the rapid advancement of enteral feedings on the algorithm, there was no incidence of NEC in the study group compared with 11% in the control group. CONCLUSION: The use of an enteral feeding algorithm is a safe and effective means of initiating and advancing enteral nutrition in infants with HLHS following stage I palliation.

Management of the pediatric postoperative cardiac surgery patient.

Optimal management of the postoperative pediatric cardiac surgical patient requires a thorough understanding of patient anatomy, physiology, surgical repair or palliation, and clinical condition. This necessitates a dedicated team of clinicians including skilled nurses, physicians, and respiratory therapists specialized in the care of patients who have complex congenital heart disease. This article provides an overview of the multisystemic risk factors and consequences associated with cadiopulmonary bypass and cardiac surgery. An evaluation of cardiac hemodynamics and a review of major organ systems are included. Essential assessment information and interventional strategies for managing the pediatric postoperative cardiac surgery patient are detailed.