Improving motor development of toddlers with congenital heart defects using a home-based Intervention: A pilot study

Affiliated institutions include: The Hospital for Sick Children (P. Longmuir), University of Toronto (P. Longmuir, B. Gibson)Purpose: To examine the effectiveness and feasibility of a home-based rehabilitation program on neurodevelopment in toddlers with congenital heart defects. Methods: Twenty participants (5 female) participated in this pre- post-, quasi-experimental, pilot study. Participants were between 12-26 months of age and had undergone an arterial switch operation (ASO) or a Glenn shunt procedure to correct for a congenital heart defect. Neurodevelopment was measured using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale, Version 2. Participants underwent a 10-week, parent delivered program, completed for 20 minutes daily. Gross and fine motor quotients (GMQ and FMQ) and visual motor standard scores (VMSS) were reported. Program adherence and barriers to program delivery were measured using daily logbooks. Results: The ASO group scored average at baseline on the GMQ, FMQ and VMSS. The mean pre- post-differences on the GMQ, FMQ and VMSS were -0.38, -1.20, and -0.80, respectively. The Glenn shunt group scored poor and below average at baseline. The mean pre- post-differences in GMQ, FMQ and VMSS were 2.34, 1.20 and 0.00, respectively. These changes were not significantly different. Of thirteen logbooks returned, two indicated full dherence. Conclusions: All participants demonstrated a normal rate of development throughout the intervention. The Glenn shunt group was below average at baseline, indicating an improvement in rate of development. In the future, similar studies should use a control group, a longer intervention, and an easier method of tracking.Cardiovascular Clinical Research Unit at The Hospital for Sick Children & the Labatt Family Heart Centre Innovation Fun