title: Enteral feeding and caloric intake in neonates after cardiac surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adequate enteral nutrition may be difficult to achieve early in neonates after cardiac surgery, but it is essential for growth, wound healing, and immune function.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess caloric intake in neonates receiving enteral nutrition after surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was conducted of daily enteral caloric intake in the cardiac intensive care unit of a tertiary children's hospital. Data on the institution of enteral feeding and the discontinuation of parenteral nutrition were assessed for full-term neonates who had undergone cardiac surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caloric intake was assessed in 100 patients, 52 with biventricular cardiac defects and 48 with a functional single ventricle. The median duration of stay in the cardiac intensive care unit was 13 days (range, 4-69), and patients received enteral feeding exclusively for a median of 5 days (range, 1-43). In total, 705 patient days were evaluated. The median caloric intake per day was 93 kcal/kg (range, 43-142). A goal of 100 kcal/kg was achieved for 48.4% of patient days and 120 kcal/kg for only 19.7% of patient days. Median weight change for the period of enteral feeding was -20 g (range, -775 to 1485 g).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enteral feeding alone is often suboptimal after neonatal cardiac surgery. New strategies to improve caloric intake may enhance postoperative recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, PA, USA. cschwalbe@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Courtney R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Schwalbe-Terilli
authors.forename: Diane H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.forename: Monica L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Nagle
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Ittenbach
authors.forename: Nancy B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Burnham
authors.forename: J William
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Gaynor
authors.forename: Chitra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ravishankar
mesh_terms: D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002149:Energy Intake; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies