Pediheart Podcast #273: Can Nasal Intubation Of Newborns Undergoing CHD Surgery Improve Postoperative Oral Feeding?

This week we delve into the worlds of cardiac critical care and congenital heart surgery when we review a recent report of a randomized controlled trial assessing the impact of nasal intubation on rates of NG or G tube feeds at discharge following neonatal congenital heart surgery. Do nasally intubated patients eat by mouth faster and have shorter lengths of stay? What would be the theoretical reasons that this might be useful? What is an 'ICU Liberation bundle' and how did its application to all postop newborns improve outcomes? Can the route of tracheal intubation truly be viewed as a possible 'modifiable risk factor'? These are amongst the questions posed to cardiology fellow at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Melissa Yildirim who conducted this study at the University of Virginia during pediatric critical care fellowship. doi: 10.1007/s00246-023-03322-7