Oral feeding difficulties and growth failure are common in infants and young children with congenital heart disease (CHD). Current literature linking these two factors is limited.

The aim of this investigation was to identify the incidence of oral feeding difficulties and growth failure associated with specific cardiac diagnoses in children attending the Queensland Paediatric Cardiac Service.

Oral feeding skills, anthropometric data and cardiac diagnoses (cyanotic/acyanotic) were collected from 57 children with CHD on admission to hospital for cardiac surgery. Data collected on admission were growth parameters, clinical feeding assessments and parents’/carers’ completion of written questionnaires. Data were examined using descriptive statistics and CDC 2000 growth charts.

In this population (n=57), 58% were male with a median age of 4 months (range 0-33 months). Oral feeding difficulties were identified in 61% (n=35) of patients, of which 19% were nil by mouth pre-surgery. A significant proportion of patients demonstrated growth failure (≤=3rd percentile) for weight (50%); height (33%) and combined weight for height (33%). Additionally, patients with oral feeding difficulties (n=35) were more likely to have growth failure for weight (59%); height (36%) and weight for height (39%). Growth failure was more evident in acyanotic (24%) versus cyanotic (9%) patients for combined weight for height. There was no relationship between diagnosis and presence of oral feeding difficulties.

A relationship exists between oral feeding difficulties and growth failure. Future prospective studies are required to identify effective intervention strategies to minimise the impact of oral feeding difficulties and growth failure.