The Incidence and Relevance of Hematochezia in the Interstage Congenital Heart Population

AbstractNecrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) increases morbidity and mortality for infants with single ventricle heart disease (SVHD). While hematochezia often proceeds NEC not all hematochezia progresses to NEC. We aimed to examine the incidence, risk-factors, and outcomes associated with hematochezia and NEC for infants with SVHD. A single-center cohort study including SVHD patients requiring Stage I palliation from 12/2010 to 12/2015 was performed. Demographic, clinical, and outcome measures during the interstage period were abstracted from medical records. We defined hematochezia as blood in the stool without alternative etiology and NEC as systemic or intestinal signs concurrent with hematochezia and/or the presence of radiographic pneumatosis. Clinical characteristics and outcome measures were compared between patients with/without hematochezia and with/without NEC. Of 135 patients, 59(44%) had hematochezia and 20(15%) developed NEC. Demographic and operative factors were similar between patients with and without hematochezia. Patients with NEC were more often premature (15% vs 0%,p = 0.04), have lower birth weight (3.0 ± 0.6 vs 3.3 ± 0.5 kg,p = 0.03), longer cardiopulmonary bypass time (median 131 vs. 90 min,p = 0.02) and more often underwent unplanned cardiac catheterization (20% vs 3%,p = 0.04). Patients with hematochezia had more line days (p <  0.0001) and longer post-Stage-I length of stay (p <  0.0001) than those without hemat...
Source: Pediatric Cardiology - Category: Cardiology Source Type: research