Hospital resource utilization in a national cohort of functionally single ventricle patients undergoing surgical treatment

The burden of innovation in the pediatric heart center

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to elucidate the growing complexity involved in providing pediatric cardiac care in the contemporary era of innovation. Aiming to highlight the phenomenon of chronic critical illness in a pediatric heart center, this review outlines the burdens placed on those caring for these uniquely challenging patients and poses considerations for alleviating those burdens.

RECENT FINDINGS

As care advancements drive improved survival for children with heart disease, heart centers face a growing population of chronically critically ill patients with high resource utilization and uncertain trajectories. Preterm infants, single ventricles, and complex heart failure patients require significant interventions and expertise. Their lengthy courses challenge care delivery systems and resources, in addition to placing significant emotional and cognitive burdens on the multidisciplinary teams.

SUMMARY

The growing population of chronically critically ill cardiac patients are some of the most challenging both at the system level and on the team members. While undertaking innovative therapies, we must recognize that survival as an outcome cannot be separated from associated costs of achieving that outcome; the resultant burdens of innovation cannot be ignored. Heart centers must take a proactive stance in optimizing care for children with prolonged illness while also addressing the needs of those who care for them.

Efficiency at Heart: Navigating the Hybrid Single-Ventricle Pathway

Background

Single-ventricle cardiac defects (SVCDs) are among of the most health care resource-intensive congenital diseases. Although SVCDs are traditionally palliated using the Norwood pathway, in the last 2 decades select programs have used the hybrid strategy, which redistributes the operative and interstage risks. This study sought to characterize resource use for a cohort of patients with hybrid-palliated SVCD.

Methods

All patients with SVCDs who underwent palliation with the hybrid strategy and who were followed up exclusively at our institution from January 2008 to December 2021 were included. End points were death, Norwood conversion, orthotopic heart transplantation, 6 months post-Fontan status, or 4 years of age in those patients who had not completed staged palliation. Primary end points included total days hospitalized, number of cardiology visits, echocardiograms, catheterizations, and advanced imaging performed.

Results

Of 135 patients with a diagnosis of SVCD, 72 survived for 6 months after the Fontan procedure. By patient-year for the entirety of the pathway, patients had a median hospital length of stay of 16 days (interquartile range [IQR], 12-25 days), 7 cardiology visits (IQR, 6-9), 8 echocardiograms (IQR, 7-10), and 0.7 catheterizations (IQR, 0.4-1.1). The interstage 1 period had the heaviest resource burden requiring intense cardiology follow-up and echocardiography surveillance. Cardiac catheterizations and advanced imaging were most prevalent during interstage 2 period, with a median of 2 (IQR, 1-2) catheterizations and 36 (40%) patients undergoing advanced imaging. The total median number of hospital days per patient was 63 days (IQR, 47-98.5 days).

Conclusions

Resource use for the care of patients with SVCDs is significant. The intensity of surveillance decreases as patients progress through the pathway. In comparison with published Norwood pathway data, resource intensity and use patterns in hybrid palliation are comparable.

Days alive and out of hospital for children born with single-ventricle heart disease

BACKGROUND

This study describes the illness burden in the first year of life for children with single-ventricle heart disease, using the metric of days alive and out of hospital to characterize morbidity and mortality.

METHODS

This is a retrospective single-centre study of single-ventricle patients born between 2005 and 2021 who had their initial operation performed at our institution. Patient demographics, anatomical details, and hospitalizations were extracted from our institutional single-ventricle database. Days alive and out of hospital were calculated by subtracting the number of days hospitalized from number of days alive during the first year of life. A multivariable linear regression with stepwise variable selection was used to determine independent risk factors associated with fewer days alive and out of hospital.

RESULTS

In total, 437 patients were included. Overall median number of days alive and out of hospital in the first year of life for single-ventricle patients was 278 days (interquartile range 157-319 days). In a multivariable analysis, low birth weight (<2.5kg) (b = -37.55, p = 0.01), presence of a dominant right ventricle (b = -31.05, p = 0.01), moderate-severe dominant atrioventricular valve regurgitation at birth (b = -37.65, p < 0.05), index hybrid Norwood operation (b = -138.73, p < 0.01), or index heart transplant (b = -158.41, p < 0.01) were all independently associated with fewer days alive and out of hospital.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with single-ventricle heart defects have significant illness burden in the first year of life. Identifying risk factors associated with fewer days alive and out of hospital may aid in counselling families regarding expectations and patient prognosis.