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

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Abstract

Necrotizing 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 hematochezia, and those with NEC had more line days than those without NEC (p = 0.02). Hematochezia is frequent following Stage-I palliation, however only one third of these patients develop NEC. Non-NEC Hematochezia is associated with a similar increase in line and hospital days. Further research is needed to identify methods to avoid over treatment.

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No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

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Funding

No funding was secured for this study. The Michigan Congenital Heart Outcomes Research and Discovery (MCHORD) team helped support the research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, University of Michigan, 1540 E. Hospital Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-4204, USA

    Courtney M. Strohacker, Sunkyung Yu, Ray E. Lowery & Caren S. Goldberg

  2. University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Noah S. Cutler

Authors
  1. Courtney M. Strohacker
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  2. Noah S. Cutler
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  3. Sunkyung Yu
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  4. Ray E. Lowery
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  5. Caren S. Goldberg
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Contributions

Courtney M. Strohacker conceptualized the study design, collected data, drafted the initial manuscript, and critically reviewed and revised the manuscript. Noah S. Cutler collected data and coauthored the abstract. Sunkyung Yu conceptualized the study design, performed data analysis, and critically reviewed and revised the manuscript. Ray E. Lowery performed data analysis and critically reviewed and revised the manuscript. Caren S. Goldberg conceptualized the study design and critically reviewed and revised the manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work, apart from Noah S. Cutler who was deceased prior to the completion of the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Courtney M. Strohacker.

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Strohacker, C.M., Cutler, N.S., Yu, S. et al. The Incidence and Relevance of Hematochezia in the Interstage Congenital Heart Population. Pediatr Cardiol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-024-03485-x

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