Managing CHD in Tertiary NICU in Collaboration with a Cardiothoracic Center

Title

Managing CHD in Tertiary NICU in Collaboration with a Cardiothoracic Center

Creator

Chee YH; Dunning-Davies B; Singh Y; Yates R; Kelsall W

Publisher

Pediatric Cardiology

Date

2024

Subject

gestational age; newborn; low birth weight; retrospective study; artificial ventilation; pregnancy; observational study; neonatal intensive care unit; prematurity; tertiary care center; human; article; male; drug withdrawal; cardiomyopathy; psychological well-being; congenital heart disease; cardiologist; birth weight; heart arrhythmia; diuretic agent/pv [Special Situation for Pharmacovigilance]; oxygen therapy; adenosine/pv [Special Situation for Pharmacovigilance]; cardioversion; diuretic agent/dt [Drug Therapy]; flecainide/pv [Special Situation for Pharmacovigilance]; heart failure/dt [Drug Therapy]; heart tumor; isoprenaline/pv [Special Situation for Pharmacovigilance]; propranolol/pv [Special Situation for Pharmacovigilance]; prostaglandin E2/pv [Special Situation for Pharmacovigilance]; supraventricular tachycardia

Description

Increasingly non-cardiac tertiary neonatal intensive care units (NCTNs) manage newborns with CHD prior to planned transfer to specialist cardiac surgical centres (SCSC). It improves patient flow in SCSCs, enables families to be nearer home, and improves psychological well-being Parker et al. (Evaluating models of care closer to home for children and young people who are ill: a systematic review, 2011). This practice has gradually increased as the number of SCSCs has decreased. This study examines the effectiveness of this expanding practice. The management provided, length of stay in the NCTN and outcomes are described for one UK NCTN situated at a significant distance from its SCSC. A retrospective observational study of cardiac-related admissions to a NCTN between January 2010 and December 2019 was conducted. 190 neonates were identified: 41 had critical CHD; 64 had major CHD. The cohort includes babies with a wide range of cardiac conditions and additional complexities. 23.7% (n = 45) required transfer to a specialist center after a period of stabilization and growth ranging from several hours to 132 days. 68% (n = 130) were discharged home or repatriated to a local NICU. Of the remaining 15 babies, 13 were transferred to other specialties including the hospice. Two died on NICU. The mortality was consistent with the medical complexity of the group Best and Rankin (J Am Heart Assoc 5:e002846, 2016), Laas et al. (BMC Pediatr 17:124, 2017). 8.9% (n = 17) died before age 2. Nine babies had care redirected due to an inoperable cardiac condition or life-limiting comorbidities. Our study demonstrates a complex neonatal cohort with CHD can be managed effectively in a NCTN, supporting the current model of care. The NCTN studied was well supported by pediatricians with expertise in cardiology alongside visiting pediatric cardiologists.

Rights

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Citation List Month

September List 2024

Collection

Citation

Chee YH; Dunning-Davies B; Singh Y; Yates R; Kelsall W, “Managing CHD in Tertiary NICU in Collaboration with a Cardiothoracic Center,” Pediatric Palliative Care Library, accessed February 16, 2025, https://pedpalascnetlibrary.omeka.net/items/show/19721.