[Clinical observation of enteral nutrition support in pediatric patients after heart transplantation].

Objective: To evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of enteral nutrition (EN) initiated within 24 h after heart transplantation in pediatric patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Clinical data from 16 pediatric heart transplant recipients at the Seventh Medical Center of the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital between October 2022 and October 2024 were collected, including demographics, anthropometric measurements, biochemical markers, cytokine levels, and clinical outcomes. Based on the timing of EN initiation, the patients were divided into EN-initiated within 24 h and EN-initiated after 24 h 2 groups. Demographic data, preoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support, physical examination indicators, laboratory parameters, and cytokine levels were compared between groups using independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher's exact probability test. Results: The cohort comprised 16 patients (10 males and 6 females) with an age of (12.5±1.9) years. The EN-initiated within 24 h group comprised 6 cases, and the EN-initiated after 24 h group comprised 10 cases. No significant difference was observed between the two groups in age, preoperative body mass index Z-score, preoperative ECMO support, physical examination indicators, laboratory parameters (total protein, albumin, hemoglobin), or cytokine levels (all P>0.05). Compared to the EN-initiated after 24 h group, the EN-initiated within 24 h group exhibited a shorter intensive care unit stay (t=2.65,P<0.05) and shorter mechanical ventilation duration (t=2.23,P<0.05) than EN-initiated after 24 h group. Total hospitalization length had no significant difference (P>0.05). At 72 h post-transplant, the EN-initiated within 24 h group had a lower interleukin-12 P70 (t=2.46, P<0.05) and interferon-γ levels (t=2.55, P<0.05) than EN-initiated after 24 h group. Prior to discharge, the EN-initiated within 24 h group has a lower mean skinfold thickness (t=2.49, P<0.05) and lower mid-upper arm circumference (t=2.36, P<0.05) compared with the EN-initiated after 24 h group. Conclusions: Initiating EN within 24 h postoperatively is safe and feasible in pediatric heart transplant recipients. Early EN may shorten the length of intensive care unit stay and mechanical ventilation while attenuating postoperative release of inflammatory cytokine.