We aimed to evaluate parenteral nutritional support given to the children with congenital heart disease following corrective heart surgery. Between January 2003-January 2004, 53 patients who underwent corrective heart surgery needed parenteral nutritional support. Patient median age was 120 days (range 3 days-8 years). Total parenteral nutrition was administered for median 5 days (range 3-59). While the mean value of the calculated optimum energy amount reguired by the patients was 72.75±12.14 kcal/kg/day (range 45-109), we were able to give 48.3±20.6 kcal/kg/day (range 15-108). As a result, ±29.3 (range, 10.5-136) of the optimum energy amount was able to be given to the patients. The main obstacle in delivering adequate energy to these children was fluid restriction, which was necessary in all patients. Thrombocytopenia (33%), sepsis/suspected sepsis (24.5%), and hyperglycemia (11.3%) were the other factors hindering adequate energy delivery. Glutamine was added to parenteral nutrition solution in a randomly selected group of 15 patients (28%) for at least three days. There was no difference in post-operative infection rate when comparing the patients who were administered glutamine–supplemented parenteral nutrition versus the not glutamine supplemented group (p>0.05). Addition of glutamine to total parenteral nutrition had no effect on mortality rate (p>0.05). In conclusion, an adequate energy could not be given parenterally to the patients with congenital heart disease after corrective cardiac surgery for several reasons. Addition of glutamine in parenteral nutrition solution had no effect on infection or mortality rates.

Keywords: doğuştan kalp hastalığı, total parenteral beslenme, glutamin, congenital heart disease, total parenteral nutrition, glutamine