Are babies with congenital heart disease born in the right place at the right time? Practice in a cardiac network

Antenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) and subsequent delivery of higher risk cases in the tertiary centre improves perioperative conditions and neurodevelopmental outcomes in neonates with CHD. In October 2021, the Yorkshire and Humber Congenital Heart Disease Network developed a guideline with the objective of providing guidance on the timing and location of delivery for babies with antenatal diagnosis of CHD. Our project aimed to assess compliance with the guideline and evaluate the extent of improvement in delivery practices that have been implemented in accordance with the guideline.

Muhammad Rehan Akhtar
Paediatric ST5, Leadership Fellow, Y&HCHD Network, Leeds Teaching Hospitals
muhammad.akhtar3@nhs.net

Lawrence Miall
Neonatal Consultant, Neonatal Co-Lead for Y&HCHD Network, Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Fiona Willcoxson
Paediatric Cardiology Lead Clinician, Y&HCHD Network

Alison Conchie
Manager, Y&HCHD Network Yorkshire and Humber Congenital Heart Disease (Y&HCHD) Network

Akhtar M.R., Miall L., Willcoxson F., Conchie A. Are babies with congenital heart disease born in the right place at the right time? Practice in a cardiac network. Infant 2024; 20(3): 94-98.

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Keywords

antenatal CHD diagnosis; antenatal palliative care; delivery destination

Key points

Delivery practices for babies with antenatal diagnosis of CHD have improved since implementing the Place of Delivery Guideline.
Parental wishes and emergency care are drivers for off-pathway deliveries.
There is need to monitor off-pathway deliveries and provide targeted solutions for individual cases.

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