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The effect of Kangaroo care on vital signs in infants undergoing cardiac surgery: A randomized controlled study
Dilara Cengizli1, Selvinaz Albayrak2
1Gelişim University Faculty of Health Sciences, Nursing Department, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
Kangaroo care significantly improved vital signs in infants after cardiac surgery. This intervention reduced heart rate, respiratory rate, and pain, while increasing oxygen saturation, promoting better recovery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric critical care medicine
- Neonatal nursing
- Cardiovascular surgery
Background:
- Infants undergoing cardiac surgery experience significant physiological stress.
- Monitoring and stabilizing vital signs are crucial post-operatively.
- Non-pharmacological interventions are sought to improve infant outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of kangaroo care on vital signs in infants post-cardiac surgery.
- To assess changes in heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and pain scores.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 60 infants undergoing cardiac surgery.
- Infants were divided into an experimental group (kangaroo care) and a control group.
- Vital signs and pain were recorded pre- and post-intervention.
Main Results:
- Kangaroo care significantly reduced heart rate and respiratory rate (p < 0.001).
- Peripheral oxygen saturation levels increased significantly with kangaroo care (p < 0.001).
- Pain scores decreased, and systolic blood pressure showed a significant reduction in the intervention group.
Conclusions:
- Kangaroo care is effective in stabilizing vital signs in infants post-cardiac surgery.
- Skin-to-skin contact promotes infant relaxation and potentially improves recovery.
- Integrating kangaroo care can enhance family-centered practices in cardiac surgery units.
Background And Purpose:
This study aimed to determine the effect of kangaroo care on vital signs in infants undergoing cardiac surgery.
Design And Methods:
This randomized controlled study was conducted in the pediatrics cardiovascular surgery intensive care unit of a training research hospital between December 2023 and March 2024. The sample consisted of 60 infants who had undergone cardiac surgery, with 30 assigned to the experimental group and 30 to the control group. The experimental group received kangaroo care during the procedure. Data was collected via the Descriptive Information Form about sample characteristics and the Vital Signs and Pain Recording Form. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, independent sample t-tests, ANOVA, and mixed effect model variance analysis. The study was recorded in the Clinicaltrials.gov PRS system.
Results:
The mixed-method comparison showed a high level of significance in the intervention group regarding heart rate and respiratory rate reductions, pain score reduction, and increased peripheral saturation levels in both time and group measurements (p < 0.001). Additionally, the decrease in systolic blood pressure in the intervention group was significant in the group measurements (p < 0.001), whereas time-based comparisons showed no significant changes in diastolic blood pressure (p > 0.05). Comparison of changes in pre-test and post-test vital signs between the intervention and control groups were significant, except for diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
The study demonstrated that post-surgical kangaroo care in infants undergoing cardiac surgery reduced heart rate, systolic arterial pressure, and respiratory rate, while increasing peripheral saturation levels and decreasing pain scores.
Implications For Practice:
The integration of kangaroo care into post-cardiac surgery care practices may lead to improvements in infants' vital signs and promote relaxation through mother-infant skin-to-skin contact. This, in turn, could potentially enhance family-centered care practices in cardiac surgery units, and, in the future, improve the quality of care outcomes for both mothers and infants.
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