Home monitoring program reduces interstage mortality after the modified Norwood procedure

Noncardiac Challenges in the Cardiac ICU: Feeding, Growth and Gastrointestinal Complications, Anticoagulation, and Analgesia

Outcomes following cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) admission are influenced by many factors including initial cardiac diagnosis, surgical complexity, and burden of critical illness. Additionally, the presence of noncardiac issues may have a significant impact on outcomes and the patient experience during and following an intensive care unit stay. This review focuses on three common noncardiac areas which impact outcomes and patient experience in and beyond the CICU: feeding and growth, pain and analgesia, and anticoagulation. Growth failure and feeding dysfunction are commonly encountered in infants requiring cardiac surgery and have been associated with worse surgical and developmental outcomes. Recent studies most notably in the single ventricle population have demonstrated improved weight gain and outcomes when feeding protocols are implemented. Children undergoing cardiac surgery may experience both acute and chronic pain. Emerging research is investigating the impact of sedatives and analgesics on neurodevelopmental outcomes and quality of life. Improved pain scores and standardized management of pain and withdrawal may improve the patient experience and outcomes. Effective anticoagulation is a critical component of perioperative care but may be complicated by inflammation, multiorgan dysfunction, and patient factors. Advances in monitoring of anticoagulation and emerging therapies are reviewed.

Current outcomes of the bi-directional cavopulmonary anastomosis in single ventricle patients: analysis of risk factors for morbidity and mortality, and suitability for Fontan completion

OBJECTIVES

The bi-directional cavopulmonary anastomosis forms an essential staging procedure for univentricular hearts. This review aims to identify risk factors for morbidity, mortality, and suitability for Fontan completion.

METHODS

A total of 114 patients undergoing cavopulmonary anastomosis between 1992 and 2012 were reviewed to assess primary - mortality and survival to Fontan completion - and secondary outcome endpoints - re-intubation, new drain, and ICU stay. Median age and weight were 8 months and 6.9 kg, respectively. In 83% of patients, 1-3 interventions had preceded. Norwood-type procedures became more prevalent over time.

RESULTS

Extubation occurred after a median of 4 hours, median ICU stay was 2 days; 10 patients (8.8%) needed re-intubation and 18 received a new drain. Higher central venous pressure and transpulmonary gradient were risk factors for new drain insertion (p<0.01). Higher pre-operative pulmonary pressure correlated with increased inotropic support and prolonged intubation (p=0.01). Need for re-intubation was significantly affected by younger age at operation (p=0.01). Hospital and pre-Fontan mortality were 11.4 and 5.3%, respectively. Operative mortality was independently affected by younger age (p=0.013), lower weight (p=0.02), longer bypass time (p=0.04), and re-intubation (p=0.004). Interstage mortality was mainly influenced by moderate ventricular function (p=0.03); 82% of survivors underwent or are candidates for Fontan completion.

CONCLUSION

The cavopulmonary anastomosis remains associated with adverse outcomes. Age at operation decreases with rising prevalence of complex univentricular hearts. Considering the important impact of re-intubation on hospital mortality, peri-operative management should focus on optimising cardio-respiratory status. Once this selection step is taken, successful Fontan completion can be expected, provided that ventricular function is maintained.

The role of home monitoring in interstage management of infants following the Norwood procedure

Although outcomes for infants with complex single ventricle heart defects have steadily improved in recent decades, there is still a significant risk for mortality and morbidity during the interstage period between stage 1 Norwood hospitalization discharge and stage 2 palliation. Home monitoring programs, which involve parental surveillance of daily weight and oxygen saturations during the interstage period, have been shown to significantly improve survival rates. This article describes the potential risk factors or causes of interstage mortality and reviews the role of home monitoring in early detection and potential prevention of adverse outcomes.

Patient-centered medical home for patients with complex congenital heart disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Originally conceived by pediatricians as a model for the care of children with special healthcare needs, the 'patient-centered medical home' (PCMH) has been identified by the Affordable Care Act as a model for all future outpatient care delivery. Although few studies have demonstrated its efficacy in improving care for children with congenital heart disease (CHD), access to a PCMH is likely to improve CHD-patient outcomes, including global function and quality of life, while reducing healthcare costs.

RECENT FINDINGS

To date, most patients with complex CHD have their care anchored in cardiology subspecialty-care clinics, which lack many of the attributes of a PCMH. Given that many of these patients have noncardiac morbidities, including neurocognitive impairment and multiorgan dysfunction, we believe such patients will benefit from a PCMH model of care based on primary care.

SUMMARY

The PCMH based on primary care for patients with complex CHD could result in improved clinical outcomes, improved patient satisfaction and quality of life as well as decreased healthcare costs. Policy and practice reform are required to increase CHD-patient access to a PCMH, based on primary-care settings.

Association of Interstage Home Monitoring With Mortality, Readmissions, and Weight Gain: A Multicenter Study from the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative

BACKGROUND

Daily home monitoring of oxygen saturation and weight has been reported to improve outcomes for patients with single-ventricle heart disease during the period between stage I palliation and stage II palliation. However, these studies have been limited to single institutions and used historical control subjects. Our objective was to determine the association of various interstage home monitoring strategies with outcomes using a multicenter cohort with contemporary control subjects.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We performed a retrospective cohort study using prospectively collected data from the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative from 2008 to 2012. We compared interstage mortality, unscheduled readmissions, and change in weight-for-age Z score for various home monitoring strategies of oxygen saturation (n=494) or weight (n=472), adjusting for sex, syndrome, tricuspid regurgitation, arch obstruction, and shunt type. Overall interstage mortality was 8.1%, and 47% had ≥1 unscheduled readmission. We did not find any associations of home oxygen saturation or weight monitoring with mortality or readmission. Although there was no difference in weight-for-age Z score for daily (0.33±0.12) versus weekly (0.34±0.18, P=0.98) weight monitoring, daily home weight monitoring was superior to no home weight monitoring (-0.15±0.18; P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Home weight monitoring is associated with improved weight gain during the interstage period, but we did not find any benefits in other clinical outcomes for either home oxygen saturation monitoring or home weight monitoring.

The Year in Review

Congenital cardiac anesthesiology is a rapidly expanding field at both ends of the life spectrum. The care of the unborn child with congenital heart disease is becoming highly specialized in regional centers that offer advanced imaging techniques, coordinated specialist care, and potentially fetal interventions. As more children with congenital heart disease survive to adulthood, patients and their health care providers are facing new challenges. The growing volume of publications reflects this expanding field of congenital cardiac anesthesiology. This year in review article highlights some developing trends in the literature.

Effect of feeding modality on interstage growth after stage I palliation: a report from the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative

OBJECTIVES

Achieving adequate growth after stage 1 palliation for children with single-ventricle heart defects often requires supplemental nutrition through enteral tubes. Significant practice variability exists between centers in the choice of feeding tube. The impact of feeding modality on the growth of patients with a single ventricle after stage 1 palliation was examined using the multiinstitutional National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative data registry.

METHODS

Characteristics of patients were compared by feeding modality, defined as oral only, nasogastric tube only, oral and nasogastric tube, gastrostomy tube only, and oral and gastrostomy tube. The impact of feeding modality on change in weight for age z-score during the interstage period, from stage 1 palliation discharge to stage 2 palliation, was evaluated by multivariable linear regression, adjusting for important patient characteristics and postoperative morbidities.

RESULTS

In this cohort of 465 patients, all groups demonstrated improved weight for age z-score during the interstage period with a mean increase of 0.3±0.8. In multivariable analysis, feeding modality was not associated with differences in the change in weight for age z-score during the interstage period (P=.72). Risk factors for poor growth were a diagnosis of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (P=.003), vocal cord injury (P=.007), and lower target caloric goal at discharge (P=.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In this large multicenter cohort, interstage growth improved for all groups and did not differ by feeding modality. With appropriate caloric goals and interstage monitoring, adequate growth may be achieved regardless of feeding modality and therefore local comfort and complication risk should dictate feeding modality.