Even after very complex operations, such as the Norwood, our patients are able to leave the hospital and get back to being kids sooner.
What does this data mean?
This graph shows the number of days that patients typically stay at Children’s during and after the Norwood procedure. It also shows how Children’s compares to the national average. A shorter stay is better. Even after very complex operations, such as the Norwood procedure, our patients are able to leave the hospital and get back to being kids sooner.
What is a Norwood procedure?
The Norwood procedure is the first in a series of three open heart operations done for a patient with a severe heart condition, such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) or another single ventricle defect. The three operations improve the condition of the child's heart. These operations do not cure or rebuild the heart completely.
Why is the length of stay at Children's after a Norwood procedure shorter than the national average?
- Children’s partners with parents to provide a smooth transition from hospital to home care. We teach parents during every step of the process, beginning before a child is admitted to surgery, and continuing through the stay in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) and the Step-down Unit. Before leaving the hospital, parents are required to attend a discharge class, where they learn how to take care of their child’s incisions, how to give medicine at home, problems that may arise, and when to call the doctor. Our commitment to providing parents with the skills and knowledge to take care of their child after surgery helps kids get out of the hospital and back to being kids sooner.
- After heart surgery, our patients are cared for in a pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, by a skilled and experienced cardiac team, including:
- Cardiac intensivists: pediatric cardiologists who have completed additional training in critical care
- Cardiac critical care nurses: nurses who have achieved certification in critical care nursing [CCRN]
- Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgeons, Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesiologists, Cardiac Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, respiratory therapists, pharmacologists, dieticians, child life specialists, chaplains, case managers and social workers.