Prolonged postoperative mechanical ventilation (PPMV) increases length of stay, hospitalization costs, and postoperative complications. Independent risk factors associated with PPMV are not well-known for children.
We identified children (<18 years) in the ACS NSQIP-P database who underwent a general surgical abdominal operation. We excluded children with preoperative ventilator dependence and mortality within 48 h of surgery. PPMV was defined as cumulative postoperative mechanical ventilation exceeding 72 h. A multivariable logistic regression model identified independent predictors of PPMV.
We identified 108,392 children who underwent a general surgical abdominal operation in the ACS NSQIP-P database from 2012 to 2017. We randomly divided the population into a derivation cohort of 75,874(70%) and a validation cohort of 32,518(30%). In the derivation cohort, we identified PPMV in 1,643(2.2%). In the multivariable model, the strongest independent predictor of PPMV was neonatal age (OR:20.66; 95%CI:16.44–25.97). Other independent risk factors for PPMV were preoperative inotropic support (OR:10.56; 95%CI:7.56–14.77), an operative time longer than 150 min (OR:4.30; 95%CI:3.72–4.52), and an American Society of Anesthesiologists classification >3 (OR:12.16; 95%CI:10.75–13.75).
Independent preoperative risk factors for PPMV in children undergoing a general surgical operation were neonatal age, preoperative ionotropic support, duration of operation, and ASA classification >3.
