Daniel E. Ehrmann1, Matthew Mulvahill2, Shaunda Harendt1,3, Jessica Church1, Amy Stimmler1, Piyagarnt Vichayavilas1,4, Sanja Batz1,5, Jennifer Rodgers1,5, Michael DiMaria1, James Jaggers1, Cindy Barrett1, Jon Kaufman1
Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 31-37, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12550
Abstract Background: Feeding practices after neonatal and congenital heart surgery are complicated and
variable, which may be associated with prolonged hospitalization length of stay (LOS). Systematic
assessment of feeding skills after cardiac surgery may earlier identify those likely to have
protracted feeding difficulties, which may promote standardization of care.
Methods: Neonates and infants ≤3 months old admitted for their first cardiac surgery were retrospectively identified during a 1-year period at a single center. A systematic feeding readiness
assessment (FRA) was utilized to score infant feeding skills. FRA scores were assigned immediately
prior to surgery and 1, 2, and… More >