Improving growth of infants with congenital heart disease using a consensus-based nutritional pathway.

Objective: Infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) often experience growth failure prior to surgery, which is associated with increased paediatric-intensive-care unit length of stay (PICU-LOS) and post-operative complications. This study assessed the impact of a pre-operative, consensus-based nutritional pathway (including support from a multi-disciplinary team) on growth and clinical outcome.

Design: Single-centre prospective pilot study.

Development of feeding information for infants with CHD.

Introduction: Infants with CHD often experience growth failure. Ensuring optimal growth before surgery is associated with improved outcomes and has emerged as a significant cause of parental stress. Parents have reported a perceived lack of accessible feeding information for infants with CHD.

The development of a consensus-based nutritional pathway for infants with CHD before surgery using a modified Delphi process.

Unlabelled: IntroductionDespite improvements in the medical and surgical management of infants with CHD, growth failure before surgery in many infants continues to be a significant concern. A nutritional pathway was developed, the aim of which was to provide a structured approach to nutritional care for infants with CHD awaiting surgery.Materials and methodsThe modified Delphi process was development of a nutritional pathway; initial stakeholder meeting to finalise draft guidelines and develop questions; round 1 anonymous online survey; round 2 online survey; regional cardiac conference and pathway revision; and final expert meeting and pathway finalisation.