title: Predictive factors for prolonged hospital stay in pediatric tonsillectomy patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine factors that may potentially predict a prolonged hospital stay after scheduled tonsillectomy in the pediatric population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of pediatric patients who had undergone a tonsillectomy at a tertiary medical center from July 2007 to November 2010 was made. Preoperative variables were analyzed to determine predictors of prolonged hospital stay (defined as >24 h) that may have influenced their length of stay.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care medical center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  827 patient charts were reviewed. One hundred and one patients (12.2 %) had hospital stays >24 h. Indications for tonsillectomy included obstructive sleep apnea (69.2 %), tonsillitis (13.8 %), and tonsillar asymmetry (0.9 %). Seventy-seven (76.2 %) patients of the extended stay group had a delayed discharge because of poor oral intake. Fever and respiratory complications accounted for 0.5 and 1.8 % respectively of those patients who had extended stays. Patients with extended stays were younger (p < 0.001) and weighed less (p < 0.001). Patients with a history of sickle cell crises, reactive airway disease, bronchodilator use, and anti-reflux medication use (p < 0.05) were more likely to have a prolonged hospital stay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Factors from the history and physical of pediatric patients may predict which children are at higher risk for extended hospital stays after routine tonsillectomy. Predictors of extended stays include those under the age of four and children weighing <20 kg, those with a history of sickle cell crises or reactive airway disease, and those using bronchodilators or anti-reflux medication.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, H091, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA. dsetabutr@hmc.psu.edu
authors.forename: Dhave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Setabutr
authors.forename: Hetal
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Garret
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Choby
authors.forename: Michele M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Carr
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014068:Tonsillectomy