The impact of cardiac surgery on infants’ emotional development and the infant parent relationship

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

    • Objective
    To describe the emotional impact of cardiac surgery on infants. Optimal early emotional experiences and a secure mother-infant attachment relationship are vital for cognitive, social and emotional development. Emotional trauma can compromise brain development. Few studies have focused on the impact of cardiac surgery and hospitalization on emotional wellbeing and the infant-parent relationship during infancy.
    Methods
    Ninety nine infants subjected to cardiac surgery in the first 3 months of life were recruited. One month after discharge from hospital parents (92 mothers, 64 fathers) completed a study questionnaire which included the Post Natal Attachment Scale and 79 mothers and 57 fathers completed a semi structured interview about their perception of the impact of the surgery and hospitalization on their baby, and the infant-parent relationship.
    Results
    Mothers reported that infants were clingy, hyper-vigilant, and alert to traumatic reminders. A quarter of the infants still had feeding problems, 20% were unsettled and 14% had sleeping problems. Seventy three percent (67/92) of mothers and 40/64(62%) of fathers reported impacts on the infant parent relationship including delayed ‘bonding’, feeling estranged from the baby, fear and distress affecting interactions or heightened attachment feelings and behaviours. Although the distribution of scores on the Post Natal Attachment Questionnaire did not differ from community samples (M= 84.47 SD:7.5), 9/65 (13%) had scores indicating significant distress in the mother infant relationship.
    Conclusion
    The care of infants post cardiac surgery may benefit from an assessment and interventions to support the infant’s emotional wellbeing and the infant parent relationship.