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Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
Published on: July 18, 2014
Transition to home after neonatal surgery for congenital heart disease
Diane M Hartman1, Barbara Medoff-Cooper
1Department of Cardiac Surgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, USA. Hartman@email.chop.edu
Insights
Primary caregivers of infants undergoing neonatal heart surgery experienced significant stress related to infant feeding and weight gain post-discharge. Addressing these feeding challenges and providing at-home parental support is crucial for improving infant care outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Neonatal Care
- Parenting Research
Background:
- Neonatal heart surgery for complex congenital heart disease (CHD) presents unique challenges for infant care.
- Postdischarge infant feeding and parental stress are critical factors influencing recovery and well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore primary caregiver perceptions of infant care challenges after neonatal heart surgery.
- To identify specific issues related to feeding, weight gain, and parental stress in infants with complex CHD.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving 15 primary caregivers of infants who underwent neonatal heart surgery.
- Data collected through two focus groups and four individual phone interviews.
- Interviews focused on feeding management, caloric intake, nasogastric tube use, feeding behaviors, and parenting stress.
Main Results:
- Feeding difficulties were prevalent in infants, regardless of feeding method (oral or tube-dependent).
- Mothers reported significant concerns about infant weight gain and caregiver sleep deprivation.
- These feeding and sleep issues were major contributors to parental stress.
Conclusions:
- Parental stress concerning infant feeding and weight gain is a significant issue following neonatal heart surgery for complex CHD.
- These concerns should be proactively addressed during hospitalization.
- Further research is needed to develop effective at-home parental support strategies.
Purpose:
To ascertain the primary caregiver's postdischarge perceptions of infant care issues after neonatal heart surgery.
Study Design And Methods:
Fifteen primary caregivers of infants who had neonatal heart surgery for complex congenital heart disease (CHD) participated in this study. We conducted two focus groups and four individual phone interviews using a structured interview guide. The topics included parent feeding management, infant caloric intake, parental acceptance of nasogastric tube, infant feeding behaviors, and issues of parenting stress. We audio recorded focus group sessions, made detailed notes and key quotes were recorded verbatim by a certified impartial focus group facilitator.
Results:
Feeding problems were present in both infants who were on full oral feeds and infants who were dependent on supplemental feeding tubes. Mothers of infants with feeding problems expressed concern over infant weight gain and caregiver sleep deprivation, which largely contributed to parental stress.
Clinical Implications:
In this small study of infants who experienced neonatal surgery for complex CHD, parental stress over feeding and weight gain were identified as important areas to be addressed during hospitalization. Future studies are needed to address increased at-home parental support.
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