Harrison TM, et al. – The feasibility of a 2–week daily skin–to–skin contact (SSC) intervention was examined in infants with complex congenital heart disease (CCHD). Outcomes approved that skin–to–skin contact was feasible in infants with CCHD. Moreover, improvements in autonomic nervous system (ANS) function were also reported with this intervention. Hence, this low–cost, low–risk intervention had the potential to improve outcomes in infants with CCHD.

Methods

• In this study, feasibility of the intervention was evaluated by recruitment and retention rates, safety, and acceptability.
• During a feeding before the 14–day SSC intervention and 3 times during a 4–week follow–up, autonomic nervous system function was measured with linear and nonlinear measures of heart rate variability (HRV).

Results

•  Recruitment rate was 72%.
• Retention rate was 55.5%.
• Mothers were universally positive about SSC.
• During the 14–day intervention, 10 mothers and infants completed a daily mean of 77.05 minutes of SSC with no adverse events.
• During the 6–week study, baseline high–frequency HRV, reactivity to challenge, and recovery after challenge were improved.
• In most of the infant, nonlinear measures demonstrated abnormally high sympathetic activity, especially after feeding.