Blood markers could help predict outcome of infant heart surgery

New research suggests it may be possible to predict an infant's progress following surgery for congenital heart disease with a blood test. The study, published in the journal Critical Care Medicine and carried out at Royal Brompton Hospital , followed children undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease, and found that by analysing metabolites in the blood - molecules created as a result of metabolism - it was possible to predict a child's clinical outcome. Congenital heart disease is relatively common, affecting between four and 14 babies in every 1,000 live births. Around one third of affected children require surgery during early childhood. However, surgery itself can cause complications, affecting inflammation (how the body responds to in jury and infection), the endocrine system (which regulates metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sleep, and mood, among other things) and metabolism itself. Congenital heart disease is known to affect children's growth, and surgery and chronic disease can affect their metabolism and ability to absorb essential nutrients. In a study funded by the British Heart Foundation , a team of UK researchers followed 28 children (with a median age of 6.6 months) who were undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease.