Improving Motor Skill Development in Infants After Cardiac Surgery

Congenital heart disease (CHD) and the need for life-saving heart surgery and intensive care
during infancy may have effects on infant behavior and development. Children who require open
heart surgery before their first birthday are vulnerable to developmental delays, especially
related to motor skills (mobility) in the first year of life. Early delays in gross motor
functioning (e.g., rolling, crawling, walking) have implications for learning and
psychosocial development through adulthood. To date, no interventions to improve the gross
motor functioning of children born with CHD have been developed. The purpose of this study is
to learn more about developmental behaviors and to examine changes in developmental progress
related to motor activities among a group of infants who received open heart surgery within
the first three months of life. Activities will be tailored based on the individual infant's
motor ability and medical status.

Inclusion Criteria:

- All hospitalized infants under age 4 months having cardiac surgery before age 3 months

- Intubation >/= 24 hours
Exclusion Criteria:

- Prematurity
- Pre-operative clinical evidence of a central nervous system (CNS) anomaly or history
of CNS insult