Motor Developmental Delay After Cardiac Surgery in Children With a Critical Congenital Heart Defect: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis

To systematically review evidence regarding the severity and prevalence of motor development in children with a critical congenital heart defect (CCHD) without underlying genetic anomalies.Twelve percent of all included studies reported abnormal mean motor developmental scores, and 38% reported below average motor scores. Children with single-ventricle physiology, especially those with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, had the highest severity and prevalence of motor delay, particularly at 0 to 12 months. Most included studies did not differentiate between gross and fine motor development, yet gross motor development was more affected.We recommend clinicians differentiate between the type of heart defect, fine and gross motor development, and the presence of genetic anomalies. Furthermore, increased knowledge about severity and prevalence will enable clinicians to tailor their interventions to prevent motor development delays in CCHD.