Perioperative nutritional prehabilitation in malnourished children with congenital heart disease: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: The poor preoperative nutritional state of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) is often exacerbated postoperatively. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of perioperative 1- versus 2-wk nutritional prehabilitation programs on growth and surgical outcomes in malnourished children with CHD.

Methods: Forty malnourished infants scheduled for elective CHD surgery were randomized to receive either 1 or 2 wk of a nutritional prehabilitation program.