Development of an Inpatient Post-operative Cardiac Rehabilitation Protocol for Children of 3 to 6 years with Congenital Heart Disease: An E-Delphi Study

Existing research strongly supports cardiac rehabilitation in adults, but limited attention is given to children aged 3 to 6 years recovering from congenital heart surgery.

Most pediatric interventions are adapted from adult programs, ignoring developmental and physiological differences.

There is a lack of randomized controlled trials assessing age specific rehabilitation in the immediate post-operative phase.

Existing studies focus on long-term or home-based programs without clear exercise dosage or progression.

Current pediatric protocols remain broad and fail to address cognitive, motor, and developmental needs.

This gap highlights the urgent need for structured, age appropriate inpatient rehabilitation protocols to enhance recovery, ensure safety, and promote better functional outcomes in young children undergoing congenital heart surgery.