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A Post-operative Feeding Protocol to Improve Outcomes for Neonates With Critical Congenital Heart Disease
Jennifer Newcombe1, Eileen Fry-Bowers2
1Loma Linda School of Nursing, United States.
Insights
A nurse-led enteral feeding protocol improved nutrition in neonates with critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) post-surgery. This enhanced nutritional status and shortened hospital stays for these vulnerable infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric critical care
- Neonatology
- Nutritional science
Background:
- Neonates with critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) face malnutrition risks post-surgery due to hypermetabolism.
- Effective nutritional support is crucial for improving outcomes in these vulnerable infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a nurse-led post-operative enteral feeding protocol on nutritional outcomes in neonates with CCHD.
- To assess the protocol's effect on length of hospital stay.
Main Methods:
- Implementation of a standardized, nurse-led enteral feeding protocol for neonates with CCHD.
- Data collection on time to achieve goal caloric intake (120kcal/kg/day), serum albumin, and anthropometric measurements.
- Statistical analysis using one-way repeated measures analysis of variance.
Main Results:
- Significant decrease in the number of days for neonates to reach goal caloric feedings.
- Significant improvements in serum albumin levels and serial anthropometric measurements during hospitalization (p<0.005).
Conclusions:
- Standardized nutritional care through a nurse-led protocol effectively improves nutritional outcomes in post-operative neonates with CCHD.
- The protocol contributes to a shorter length of hospital stay for these patients.
Abstract:
Neonates with critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) are vulnerable to malnutrition during the post-operative period due to hypermetabolism and hypercatabolism. To improve nutritional outcomes during hospitalization, a nurse led post-operative enteral feeding protocol was implemented at a large U.S. children's hospital. During an eight-month implementation period, twenty-one neonates met protocol inclusion criteria. Days for neonates to achieve goal caloric feedings (120kcal/kg/day) were decreased. A one-way repeated measures analysis of variance showed serum albumin levels and serial anthropometric measurements improved significantly throughout hospitalization (p<0.005). Results from this quality improvement project show standardizing nutritional care for neonates with CCHD during the post-operative period is an effective way to improve nutritional outcomes and shorten length of hospital stay.
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