A retrospective analysis of nutritional status, length of hospital stay, and ventilatory status for infants and children undergoing surgery for congenital heart lesions at Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center (Illinois)

Anthropometric measures are widely used to assess nutritional status of infants hospitalized with congenital heart disease (CHD). However, the relationship between nutritional status of these infants at the time of surgery and subsequent length of hospital stay has not been explored. This retrospective chart review describes the nutritional status of infants presenting for surgical repair of a congenital heart lesion. The length of hospital stay after surgery and the number of hours of ventilator support after surgery are examined in relationship to nutritional status. Thirty-eight subjects (19.7%) exhibited wasting with a weight-for-height z-score less than −2.0, and sixty-one subjects (31.6%) demonstrated stunting with a height-for-age z-score less than −2.0. A significant difference in height-for-age z-score (p = .007) and not weight-for-height (p = .934) among ethnic groups was detected. LOS after surgery was significantly associated with height-for-age z-score (p = .009) and weight-for-height z-score (p = .042). Nutritional status was not related to time on ventilator.