Effects of Preoperative Nutritional Conditions on Postoperative Recovery in Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease

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Objective: The effects of preoperative nutritional conditions on postoperative recovery in neonates with congenital heart disease (CHD) were evaluated in this study. Methods: A retrospective analysis of data from neonates with CHD who underwent surgery at our hospital from January 2020 to December 2022 was conducted. The relationships between preoperative nutritional conditions and neonatal postoperative recovery were analyzed. Results: Eighty neonates were included in this study. The average gestational age was 38.4 (37, 39.2) weeks, the average birth weight was 3.1 (2.7, 3.4) kg, the average age at surgery was 23 (21, 26) days, and the average preoperative weight was 3.5 (3.0, 3.9) kg. The postoperative mechanical ventilation duration, length of intensive care unit stay, and length of hospital stay of preterm neonates were much longer than those of full-term neonates (p < 0.05). In addition, these values were notably greater for neonates with birth weights ≤3 kg than for neonates with birth weights >3 kg (p < 0.05). The correlation analysis suggested that gestational age, birth weight, preoperative weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) and preoperative height-for-age z-score (HAZ) were negatively correlated with postoperative mechanical ventilation duration, length of intensive care unit stay, and length of hospital stay. Conclusions: Preterm birth and low birth weight significantly prolong the duration of mechanical ventilation and postoperative intensive care unit and hospital length of stay. More attention should be given to nutritional management during the perioperative period for premature or low-birth-weight neonates with CHD. For neonates with CHD requiring surgery, the time available for nutritional support before surgery is very limited; thus, more attention and guidance are needed for prenatal nutritional strategies.