Preoperative Nutritional Status of Infants with Non-Restricted Ventricular Septal Defect and Its Influence on Postoperative Recovery

Purpose: This study described the preoperative nutritional status of infants with nonrestricted ventricular septal defects (VSDs) and evaluated its effect on postoperative recovery.Methods: We retrospectively collected data from infants with nonrestricted VSD who received surgical treatment in our hospital from January 2020 to December 2021 and analyzed their preoperative nutritional status and postoperative recovery.Results: Fifty (53.8%) patients were underweight (weight for age Z score (WAZ) <=-1), and 31 (33.3%) patients were malnourished (WAZ <=-2). The mechanical ventilation time, duration of intensive care unit stay and hospital stay time after surgery of patients with WAZ <=-2 were significantly longer than those of patients with WAZ >-2 (p < 0.05). The results of linear correlation analysis showed that age, WAZ and prealbumin were negatively correlated with mechanical ventilation time, duration of intensive care unit stay and hospital stay time after surgery, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that mechanical ventilation time = 7.080 - 0.668 WAZ - 0.013 prealbumin - 0.618 age (R2: 0.729, F: 79.773, p: 0.001); duration of intensive care unit admission = 11.775 - 1.385 WAZ - 0.018 prealbumin - 0.102 age (R2: 0.714, F: 74.072, p: 0.001); and hospital stay time = 17.663 - 1.673 WAZ - 0.017 prealbumin - 1.07 age (R2: 0.711, F: 72.842, p: 0.001).Conclusion: The incidence of malnutrition in infants with nonrestricted VSD was very high, and malnutrition had a significant adverse effect on postoperative recovery. Malnutrition significantly prolonged mechanical ventilation time, duration of intensive care unit stay and hospital stay after surgery.