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. 2017 Jul-Aug:35:139-143.
doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2016.12.010. Epub 2017 Jan 4.

A Post-operative Feeding Protocol to Improve Outcomes for Neonates With Critical Congenital Heart Disease

Jennifer Newcombe  1 , Eileen Fry-Bowers  2
Affiliations

A Post-operative Feeding Protocol to Improve Outcomes for Neonates With Critical Congenital Heart Disease

Jennifer Newcombe et al. J Pediatr Nurs. 2017 Jul-Aug.

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.

Keywords: Congenital Heart Disease (CHD); Neonate; Nutrition.

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