Utility of the NEONATE Score at an Institution that Routinely Performs the Hybrid Procedure for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.

NEONATE score > 17 has been proposed as a risk factor for interstage mortality/cardiac transplant (IM/T) for patients with single ventricle physiology. Hybrid procedure is assigned 6 points, the highest possible score for that surgical variable. Most centers reserve the hybrid procedure for high-risk patients. Goal of this study was to evaluate the NEONATE score at a center that routinely performs the hybrid procedure. Retrospective chart review of patients undergoing the hybrid procedure was performed (2008-2021). Demographics and variables used for the NEONATE score were collected. Maximization of Youden's J Statistic used to determine cohort-specific optimal threshold for patients undergoing comprehensive Stage II procedure (H-CSII) versus those with IM/T (H-IM/T). Total of 120 patients met inclusion criteria (H-CSII = 105, H-IM/T = 15). Gestational age was median 39 weeks (IQR 38, 39) and birth weight was 3.18 kg (2.91, 3.57). No patient was discharged with opiates or required post-operative extracorporeal circulatory support. Optimal threshold, as selected by maximizing Youden's J Statistic, was 22. Score > 22 had a positive predictive value of 0.33 (95% CI 0.12-0.62), negative predictive values of 0.90 (95% CI 0.83-0.95), and accuracy of 0.83 (95% CI 0.75-0.90) for IM/T. At a center that routinely performs the hybrid procedure, value of > 22 had the highest accuracy. This suggests that the hybrid procedure is not necessarily intrinsically a risk-factor for IM/T, but rather patient selection for the hybrid procedure may play a larger role at centers that do not routinely perform this procedure.

Interstage outcomes in single ventricle patients undergoing hybrid stage 1 palliation.

OBJECTIVE: Interstage readmissions are common in infants with single ventricle congenital heart disease undergoing staged surgical palliation. We retrospectively examined readmissions during the interstage period. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: The Heart Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. PATIENTS: Newborns undergoing hybrid stage 1 palliation from January 2012 to December 2016 who survived to hospital discharge and were followed at our institution. INTERVENTIONS: All patients underwent hybrid stage 1 palliation. OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcomes included (1) reason for interstage readmission; (2) feeding modality during interstage period; (3) major interstage adverse events; and (4) interstage mortality. RESULTS: Study group comprised 57 patients. Five patients only admitted once during the interstage period for scheduled cardiac catheterization were included in the no readmission group. Therefore, 43 patients (75%) had a total of 87 interstage readmissions. Fourteen patients had 15 major interstage adverse events accounting for 17% of total readmissions. Stroke (n = 1); sepsis (n = 1); pericardial effusion requiring drainage (n = 1); mesenteric ischemia (n = 1); shock (n = 1); and cardiac catheterization requiring intervention (n = 11)-ductal stent balloon angioplasty (n = 3), enlargement of atrial septal defect/stent placement (n = 3), retrograde aortic arch stenosis (n = 4). Thirty-three readmissions were secondary to gastrointestinal/feeding issues; 15 cyanosis; 15 work of breathing; and 9 asymptomatic patients. Four patients suffered interstage deaths (7%). Five patients (9%) spent >30 days in the hospital during the interstage period. Of the 47 newborns (82%) discharged exclusively orally feeding, 74% remained all orally feeding throughout interstage period. No patient discharged with tube feedings learned to eat during the interstage period. CONCLUSION: Interstage readmissions are common in the hybrid patient population. Seventeen percent were secondary to major adverse events. Interstage mortality was 7%. Future studies to identify interventions aimed at decreasing feeding issues and viral bronchiolitis in this tenuous patient population will hopefully improve quality outcomes, reduce readmissions, and lessen health care costs.

Differences in midterm outcomes in infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis: NPCQIC database analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Neonates with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) are at increased risk for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Initial hospital outcomes are well described, but minimal midterm data exist. Goal of this study was to compare outcomes of HLHS infants with NEC (HLHS-NEC) to HLHS without NEC (HLHS-nNEC) during the interstage period. METHODS: Data were reviewed from 55 centers using the NPC-QIC database. Case-control study with one HLHS-NEC matched to HLHS-nNEC neonates in a 1:3 ratio based on institutional site, type of surgical repair, and gestational age ±1 week was performed. Baseline demographics as well as outcome data were recorded. The t tests or chi-square tests were performed as appropriate. RESULTS: There were 57 neonates in the HLHS-NEC (14 Norwood-BT, 37 Norwood-RVPA, and 6 hybrid) and 171 neonates in the HLHS-nNEC group. There were significant differences between the HLHS-NEC versus HLHS-nNEC for presence of atrioventricular valve regurgitation (7% vs 2%), use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (11% vs 2%), hospital stay (60.4 ± 30.0 vs 36.3 ± 33.6 days), Z-score weight at discharge (-2.1 vs -1.6), incidence of no oral intake (33% vs 14%), and use of formula only nutrition at discharge (61% vs 29%), respectively. There were no significant differences between groups in readmission rates due to adverse gastrointestinal events, use of gastrointestinal medications, interstage deaths, or Z-score weight at time of second surgery. HLHS-NEC continued to be more likely to be entirely tube dependent for enteral intake at time prior to the second procedure (39% vs 15%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite similar baseline characteristics, HLHS-NEC infants had significant differences in hospital course compared with HLHS-nNEC neonates. In addition, HLHS-NEC infants were less likely to be fed orally during the entire interstage period. Future studies are needed minimize NEC in this high risk population to possibly improve oral feeds.

Reducing variation in feeding newborns with congenital heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: Enteral feeding is associated with decreased infection rates, decreased mechanical ventilation, decreased hospital length of stay, and improved wound healing. Enteral feeding difficulties are common in congenital heart disease. Our objective was to develop experience-based newborn feeding guidelines for the initiation and advancement of enteral feeding in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit. DESIGN: This is a retrospective analysis of a quality improvement project. SETTING: This quality improvement project was performed in a cardiothoracic intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Newborns admitted to the cardiothoracic intensive care unit for cardiac surgery from January 2011 to May 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. INTERVENTION: Newborn feeding guidelines for the initiation and advancement of enteral feeding were implemented in January 2012. OUTCOME MEASURES: Guideline compliance and clinical variables before and after guideline implementation were reviewed. RESULTS: Compliance with the guidelines increased from 83% in 2012 to 100% in the first two quarters of 2015. Preguidelines (January 2011-December 2011): 45 newborns underwent cardiac surgery; 8 deaths prior to discharge; 1 patient discharged from NICU, therefore, N = 36. Postguidelines (January 2012-May 2015): 131 newborns with 12 deaths, 12 admitted from home, 8 in the NICU, 3 on the floor preop, and 3 back transferred, therefore, N = 93. No difference in feeding preop (post 75% vs pre 69%; P = .5) or full po feeds at discharge (post 78% vs pre 89%; P = .2). Mesenteric ischemia was not statistically different postguidelines (post 6% vs pre 14%; P = .14). Length of hospital stay decreased postguidelines (post 27 + 17 d vs pre 34 + 42 d; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of experience-based newborn feeding guidelines for initiation and advancement of enteral feeding in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit was successful in reducing practice variation supported by increasing guideline compliance. Percentage of patient's full oral feeding at discharge did not change. Length of hospital stay was reduced although cannot be fully attributed to feeding guideline implementation.

Interstage Survival for Patients with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome After ECMO.

There is a reported 5-20 % incidence of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) following stage I palliation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). This study compares the interstage mortality of HLHS patients supported with ECMO (HLHS-ECMO) to those who were not supported with ECMO (HLHS-nECMO) using the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Initiative database. Patients with HLHS who survived to hospital discharge after stage I palliation were analyzed. HLHS-ECMO patients were compared to HLHS-non-ECMO patients with respect to demographics, surgical variables, and interstage survival. A total of 931 patients were identified in the database. Sixty-six (7.1 %) patients were supported with ECMO during their stage I palliation admission. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with respect to demographics or anatomic subtype. HLHS-ECMO patients were more likely to have a preoperative risk factor identified (62 vs. 48 %, p = 0.03) or require ECMO prior to stage I palliation (3 vs. 0.5 %, p = 0.03). HLHS-ECMO patients had a significantly higher incidence of death or transplant versus the HLHS-nECMO group (18 vs. 9 %, p = 0.03). Despite survival to discharge, patients with HLHS requiring ECMO after their palliation continue to have an increased risk of death/cardiac transplant versus patients that do not require ECMO. ECMO use is likely a marker for a high-risk patient group. These patients may benefit from closer follow-up during the interstage period.