Outcomes of post-acute hospital episodes for young children requiring airway support.
In this descriptive study, we examined changes in invasive and non-invasive airway support; studied the rates of home discharge vs. long-term care or acute hospitalization; and examined the relationship between the level of airway support and discharge to home for 92 children (<3 years of age) with 104 admission-discharge episodes to a consortium of pediatric rehabilitation hospitals over a one-year period. We found a significant reduction (p < 0.001) in the level of airway support between admission and discharge. In 21 of 47 (45%) episodes, children weaned from mechanical ventilation to a less restrictive type of support. Sixty percent of the children had final discharges to home. There was a significant, though fair correlation (Spearman Rho = -0.344, p = 0.001) between home discharge and level of airway support. These outcomes data provide a multi-site baseline for understanding expected changes in airway support and home discharge rates of young children who are admitted to a post-acute inpatient program.
O'Brien
Jane E
JE
Research Centre, Franciscan Hospital for Children, Boston, MA 02135, USA.
Haley
Stephen M
SM
Dumas
Helene M
HM
Ladenheim
Barbara
B
Mast
Joelle
J
Burke
Sharon A
SA
Birnkrant
David J
DJ
Whitford
Kathleen
K
Coletti
Daniel J
DJ
Simpser
Edwin F
EF
Pelegano
John
J
Neufeld
Jacob A
JA
Kharasch
Virginia S
VS
D002675:Child, Preschool; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008397:Masks; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D010343:Patient Admission; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy; D012138:Respiratory Therapy; D014139:Tracheostomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome