AUTHOR=Yu Xian-Rong , Xie Wen-Peng , Liu Jian-Feng , Wang Li-Wen , Cao Hua , Chen Qiang 

TITLE=Effect of the Addition of Human Milk Fortifier to Breast Milk on the Early Recovery of Infants After Congenital Cardiac Surgery

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2021.661927

DOI=10.3389/fped.2021.661927

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> This article studied the effect of breast milk supplemented with human milk fortifier (HMF) on the early recovery of infants after congenital cardiac surgery.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Infants undergoing congenital cardiac surgery were randomly divided into an intervention group (<italic>n</italic> = 27) and a control group (<italic>n</italic> = 27). Infants in the intervention group received HMF, and those in the control group were exclusively breastfed. The nutritional indicators at discharge, the postoperative recovery status, and nutritional-related complications were recorded.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Compared with the control group at the time of discharge, the weight and albumin and prealbumin levels of the intervention group were significantly increased (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). The length of hospital stay of the intervention group was significantly reduced compared with that of the control group (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). Although the length of ICU stay for the intervention group was shorter than that of the control group, the difference was not significant (<italic>P</italic> &gt; 0.05). No significant difference in the incidence of postoperative nutrition-related complications was noted between the two groups (<italic>P</italic> &gt; 0.05).</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Compared with breastfeeding alone, with HMF can improve postoperative weight gains, reduce the length of stay, and promote infants' early recovery after congenital cardiac surgery.</p>