Assessment and management of feeding difficulties for infants with complex CHD

Authors

Hema Desai, Department of Rehabilitation Services, Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA, USA.Follow
Courtney E. Jones, Acute Care Therapy Services, Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Jennifer L. Fogel, Advocate Aurora HealthFollow
Karli A. Negrin, Department of Therapy and Rehabilitative Services, Nemours Children's Health, Wilmington, DE, USA.
Nancy L. Slater, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services, Children's Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Kimberly Morris, Department of Speech-Language Pathology, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
Lisa R. Doody, Advocate Aurora HealthFollow
Katherine Engstler, Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Andrea Torzone, Heart Center, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Children's Medical Center Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA.
Jodi Smith, Mended Hearts Inc., Albany, GE, USA.
Samantha C. Butler, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.Follow

Recommended Citation

Desai H, Jones CE, Fogel JL, et al. Assessment and management of feeding difficulties for infants with complex CHD [published online ahead of print, 2022 Dec 23]. Cardiol Young. 2022;1-10. doi:10.1017/S1047951122004024

Affiliations

Advocate Children's Hospital

Abstract

Early surgical intervention in infants with complex CHD results in significant disruptions to their respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems, which are all instrumental to the development of safe and efficient oral feeding skills. Standardised assessments or treatment protocols are not currently available for this unique population, requiring the clinician to rely on knowledge based on neonatal literature. Clinicians need to be skilled at evaluating and analysing these systems to develop an appropriate treatment plan to improve oral feeding skill and safety, while considering post-operative recovery in the infant with complex CHD. Supporting the family to re-establish their parental role during the hospitalisation and upon discharge is critical to reducing parental stress and oral feeding success.

Document Type

Article

PubMed ID

36562257