In-hospital mortality and length of hospital stay in infants requiring tracheostomy with bronchopulmonary dysplasia

PurposeTo investigate in-hospital mortality and hospital length of stay (LOS) in infants requiring tracheostomy with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).MethodsWe explored the correlation between tracheostomy with in-hospital mortality and LOS in infant patients hospitalized with BPD, using the data from Nationwide Inpatient Sample between 2008 and 2017 in the United States. In-hospital mortality and LOS was compared in patients who underwent tracheostomy with those patients who did not after propensity-score matching.ResultsA total of 10,262 children <= 2 years old hospitalized with BPD, 847 (8%) underwent tracheostomy, and 821 patients underwent tracheostomy were matched with 1602 patients without tracheostomy. Tracheostomy group was correlated with higher in-hospital mortality(OR(95%CI):2.98(2.25-3.95)) and prolonged LOS(absolute difference(95%CI):97.0(85.6-108.4)).ConclusionsTracheostomy was correlated with increased in-hospital mortality and prolonged LOS. Such information may contribute to better decision-making process between clinicians and parents regarding tracheostomy to manage parent expectations, as well as better interdisciplinary teamwork.