Kangaroo care improves post-extubation cardiorespiratory parameters in infants after open heart surgery

The aim of this investigation was to study whether kangaroo care could be helpful in fullterm infants subjected to cardiac postoperative intensive care during the early post-extubation hours. Kangaroo care was performed at 2-h intervals in the first 12 h after extubation in 5 male infants and assessed by cardiorespiratory parameters. Results showed that, during kangaroo care, heart rate (123 +/- 4 vs 128 +/- 5 bpm), respiratory frequency (43 +/- 3 vs 51 +/- 5 breath pm), transcutaneous carbon dioxide (46 +/- 2 vs 50 +/- 4 mmHg) and central venous pressure (11 +/- 0.8 vs 12 +/- 1.2 mmHg) significantly decreased (p < 0.05 for all), while oxygen saturation (78 +/- 6 vs 74 +/- 5 mmHg) and transcutaneous oxygen pressure increased (42 +/- 2 vs 38 +/- 3 mmHg) (p < 0.05 for all). Conclusion: We conclude that kangaroo cure might be a useful technique contributing to stabilization of the cardiorespiratory status in postoperative paediatric cardiac intensive care.