Risk factors for peri-operative respiratory adverse events after supraglottoplasty

Objective: To determine demographic and peri-operative characteristics that predict peri-operative respiratory adverse events (PRAE) requiring intensive care unit (ICU) level intervention after supraglottoplasty. Study design: Case series with chart review. Setting: Tertiary care children's hospital. Methods: Retrospective chart review was conducted of children with laryngomalacia who underwent supraglottoplasty between October 2014 and November 2019. PRAE were defined as any of the following events or requirements within 24 h of surgery: 1) failure to extubate, 2) reintubation, 3) positive pressure ventilation, 4) more than one dose of racemic epinephrine, or 5) greater than 4 L of oxygen via nasal cannula. Results: Fifty-one subjects were enrolled, with a median age of 4.8 months and majority (62 %) Hispanic. Twentyone (41 %) subjects experienced PRAE. After adjusting for age and gender on multivariate analysis, children admitted preoperatively to the ICU were more likely to have PRAE than those not admitted or admitted to a floor unit (OR 40.1, 95%CI: 4.1-388.6, p = 0.001). Additionally, children with intraoperative oxygen desaturations below 90 % for greater than 1 min were more likely to have PRAE than those who did not (OR 21.3, 95%CI: 2.4-189.9, p = 0.006). Other factors significantly associated with PRAE on univariate analysis included chronic lung disease, congenital cardiac abnormality, history of intubation, supplemental oxygen requirement, gastrostomy tube dependence, intraoperative intubation and longer surgery length. Conclusion: Preoperative ICU admission and intraoperative oxygen desaturations are independent risk factors for PRAE after supraglottoplasty. Results from this study can help inform decisions regarding the appropriate level of postoperative care required after supraglottoplasty. Level of evidence: IV.