Parent Well-Being Following Their Infant’s Cardiac Surgery

  • Dr Candice Franich-Ray, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Australia
  • A/Prof Brigid Jordan, 1. Royal Children’s Hospital 2. Murdoch Childrens Research Institute 3. The University of Melbourne, Australia
  • Prof Vicki Anderson, 1. Murdoch Childrens Research Institute 2. The University of Melbourne 3. Royal Children’s Hospital, Australia
  • A/Prof Elisabeth Northam, 1. Murdoch Childrens Research Institute 2. The University of Melbourne, 3. Royal Children's Hospital, Australia
  • Mr Andrew Cochrane, Monash Medical Centre, Australia
  • A/Prof Samuel Menahem, 1. Monash Medical Centre 2. The University of Melbourne, Australia

    • Objective
    To investigate the emotional impact on parents of their infant’s cardiac surgery. Surgery may result in parents being separated from their baby after birth. They experience uncertainty and anxiety about their baby’s condition and prognosis. Many may witness their baby undergoing painful procedures.

    Method
    Mothers and fathers were recruited if their baby had cardiac surgery under three months of age. One month after their baby was discharged both parents were interviewed and asked to complete a questionnaire protocol that included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Acute Stress Disorder Scale.

    Results
    Ninety nine families participated in the study. Seventy eight mothers and 57 fathers completed the questionnaires. Seventeen mothers (21%) had possible depression and 11 (14%) had probable depression. Nine mothers (12%) and 4 fathers (7%) were still experiencing clinically significant anxiety. Fifty-five mothers (72%) and 32 fathers (58%) experienced significant dissociation symptoms and 27 mothers (35%) and 10 fathers (18%) satisfied criteria for acute stress disorder.

    Conclusion
    The study found significant emotional trauma in parents in the context of their infant’s cardiac surgery. It suggests that a trauma framework should be considered when assessing the impact on parents. Trauma reactions may impair parents’ ability to process medical information, make informed decisions or develop a secure attachment relationship with their baby. The ongoing trauma reactions after hospital discharge suggests that parents may need to be assessed and offered treatment for this during their baby’s admission with subsequent review after the baby is discharged.