Abstract 4603: Home Surveillance Results in Improved Interstage Weight Gain in Infants following the Norwood Operation

Abstract

Infants with complex congenital heart disease are at increased risk for malnutrition and poor weight gain. At our institution, infants who undergo Stage I Norwood operation are discharged with a home surveillance (HomeSurv) program which includes weight monitoring. To evaluate the impact of home surveillance on interstage growth, a current cohort of patients enrolled in Home Surv (n=18) was compared to a cohort discharged immediately prior to the implementation of the Home Surv program (n=20). The cohorts were compared using parametric and non-parametric methods as appropriate. Results: Infants underwent Stage I at a median age of 3.5 days (range 1–26), and at a mean weight 3.0 ± 0.4 kg., 26 with a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt and 12 with a right ventricular-to-pulmonary artery shunt. There were 26 males and 12 females. There were no significant differences between the groups with and without HomeSurv with respect to Stage I age, sex, Stage I weight, or shunt type. Stage I discharge weights were similar between the two cohorts (p=0.23) and there was no significant difference in Stage I hospital length of stay (p=0.10). Mean age at Stage II was 5.1 mos in the HomeSurv group and 4.9 mos in the pre-HomeSurv group, (p = 0.63). Mean weight at Stage II was higher in the HomeSurv group, but not statistically significant (5.9 kg vs 5.5 kg, p=0.30). However, weight gain >15 gms/day post Stage I discharge (our minimum weight gain threshold) was achieved by 89% of infants with Home Surv in comparison to 60% of the pre-HomeSurv group, p<.05. Weight gain was not significantly correlated with weight at Stage I, Stage I hospital length of stay, or age at Stage II, and was not significantly different related to shunt type. Conclusion: Home surveillance including weight monitoring following Stage I Norwood positively impacts interstage weight gain. In particular, it appears to confer protection for at-risk infants who fall below the threshold weight gain of 15gms/day. Future studies should explore whether this improved weight gain is an important factor in interstage morbidity and mortality.