Feeding Dysfunction in Children with Single Ventricle Following Staged Palliation

Objective To determine the prevalence of feeding dysfunction in children with single ventricle defects and identify associated risk factors. Study design Patients aged 2-6 years with single ventricle physiology presenting for routine cardiology follow-up at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin were prospectively identified. Parents of the patients completed 2 validated instruments for assessment of feeding dysfunction. Chart review was performed to retrospectively obtain demographic and diagnostic data. Results Instruments were completed for 56 patients; median age was 39 months. Overall, 28 (50%) patients had some form of feeding dysfunction. Compared with a normal reference population, patients with single ventricle had statistically significant differences in dysfunctional food manipulation ( P P = .002), choking/gagging/vomiting ( P P P P P = .001, respectively). Multivariable analysis identified current gastrostomy tube use ( P = .02) and a single parent household ( P = .01) as risk factors for feeding dysfunction. Conclusion Feeding dysfunction is common in children with single ventricle defects, occurring in 50% of our cohort. Feeding dysfunction is associated with worse growth measures. Current gastrostomy tube use and a single parent household were identified as independent risk factors for feeding dysfunction.